South Ossetia's status as independent state is real - Geneva discussions co-chairman Philippe Lefort
TSKHINVAL. Jan 20 (Interfax) - The status of South Ossetia as a virtually independent state has been determined by its people a long time ago, EU co-chairman of the Geneva discussions Philippe Lefort said at a meeting with South Ossetian President Leonid Tibilov on Monday.
It is almost impossible to change this stance and this is the reality, with which it is necessary to learn to live and work, Lefort said.
The issue of stability and security takes priority at the Geneva discussions, Lefort said.
The risk of a military clash should be ruled out and the Geneva discussion board and South Ossetia are making efforts throughout all rounds of the Geneva discussions in order to obtain these guarantees, Lefort said.
The EU co-chairman said that he thanked South Ossetia for its constructive stance in resolving many issues and that he would continue to work on resolving issues of South Ossetian citizens, who have been convicted and kept in Georgian prisons.
Lefort has been working on issues and tasks submitted for the Geneva discussions for a long time, Tibilov said.
"We have always upheld a stance aimed at resolving all the tasks set for members of the Geneva discussions," Tibilov said.
The main purpose of the Geneva discussions is to sign a legally binding document on non-use of force, the South Ossetian leader said.
"South Ossetia hopes that the discussion of this issue at the upcoming rounds of the Geneva discussions will be more productive," Tibilov said.
Tibilov has met with Lefort as EU co-chairman of the Geneva Discussions on Security and Stability in Transcaucasus for the last time, a new co-chairman will be appointed within a month.
South Ossetian administration head Boris Chochiyev, presidential advisor Konstantin Kochiyev and presidential envoy for post-conflict settlement Murat Dzhioyev have attended the meeting as well.