10 June 2004 17:16
Russia said to favour diplomacy to solve problem of South Ossetia
Moscow, 10 June: The Russian leadership "is doing its utmost to ensure Russian interests in the
Transcaucasus", the chairman of the State Duma's committee for CIS affairs and ties with compatriots, Andrey
Kokoshin, said today.
According to him, "this opinion is based on today's address by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to
the State Duma at a meeting behind closed doors". The meeting is still in progress. Experts of the Russian Foreign
Ministry and Defence Ministry are taking part in it along with the deputies, Kokoshin said.
"It is a very serious, deep and detailed discussion. The main proposals boil down to taking political and
diplomatic measures," Kokoshin said.
Meanwhile, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry has refrained from any comments following today's discussion
devoted to the problems of the Transcaucasus. "The hearings were held behind closed doors," he explained to
journalists.
North Ossetian President Aleksandr Dzasokhov took part in the meeting.
[A separate ITAR-TASS report at 1300 gmt quoted Kokoshin as saying he was going to discuss the issue at his talks
with South Ossetia leader Eduard Kokoiti. Duma Deputy and Rodina faction leader Dmitriy Rogozin was quoted as saying
that the Russian government should be more proactive regarding the tense situation in the Transcaucasus.]
[ITAR-TASS news agency] |
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