S.Ossetia wants to join Russia-Belarus union – leader

MOSCOW, August 21 (RIA Novosti) – South Ossetia will seek to join the
union being formed by Russia and Belarus, the former Georgian
republic’s leader said on Friday.
"We will seek this with great pleasure," Eduard Kokoity told
reporters, suggesting that Belarus would recognize South Ossetia as an
independent state soon.
The only country so far to have followed Russia’s example in
recognizing South Ossetia and the other self-proclaimed Georgian
republic, Abkhazia, is Nicaragua. Belarus has sent mixed signals on
whether it will recognize the two regions.
Last month, Belarus’s foreign ministry advised Belarusian nationals to
abide by Georgian laws when visiting the regions. The comments were
welcomed by Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and strongly
criticized by Moscow.
Moscow recognized South Ossetia last August following a five-day war
with Georgia, which attacked the region to regain control of it.
Kokoity unveiled a photo exhibition in Moscow earlier on Friday
dedicated to the first anniversary of the republic’s recognition by
Russia.
He said the exhibit was designed to show that South Ossetia was not
only about "war and ruins," but it was a hospitable country, and that
it was also a gesture of people’s gratitude to Russia.
"I have no doubt that we will realize our potential in the next few
years," the leader said.
However, Kokoity voiced concerns over Georgia’s ongoing military
buildup. "Georgia’s military strength is much higher now than before
August 2008," he said.
Russia has invested in rebuilding South Ossetia’s infrastructure after
the war, and pledged hundreds of millions of dollars to support both
republics’ economies and security. It also deployed more troops there
after the conflict.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress