President Evkurov is going to make up Ingushes and Ossetians

President of Ingushetia Yunus-Bek Evkurov intends, with a complete support of Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, to repair Ossetian-Ingush relations; according to his version, this should start with addressing the issue of human rights violations. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that Mr Evkurov spoke about it on September 8 at the roundtable in Ingushetia, where a delegation from North Ossetia also took part.

The roundtable under the motto "Ways to Peace and Accord" was held with participation of Thomas Hammarberg, European Union Commissioner on Human Rights, who was in the republic on that day, Russian Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin and Liudmila Alekseeva, head of the Moscow Helsinki Group for defence of human rights. North Ossetia was represented by nine human rights activists and lawyers, headed by Anatoly Sidakov, leader of the regional branch of the "Yabloko" Party in North Ossetia.

This "Yabloko" ranch and human rights organizations of Ingushetia, led by Magomed Mutsolgov, acted as the organizers of the event.

According to Elona Plaeva, a delegate from North Ossetia, President Evkurov said that the Prigorodny District will remain, as it was, in the Republic of South-Ossetia-Alania, and Ingushetia has no plans and ideas to change it. Also, according to Evkurov, the intention of the Ingush party is to return refugees to their previous residence; for this purpose a plan of joint residence was designed together with North Ossetia; and 7 billion roubles will be allotted to implement it.

The roundtable was held in the spontaneous conditions, caused by a complicated situation in Ingushetia, when any action or event can be disrupted, let us say it point-blank, by a terror act or provocations. Moreover, as to Ossetian-Ingush relations, there is no unanimous attitude to them either of the Ingush or Ossetian population," said Elona Plaeva.

Thomas Hammarberg, EU Commissioner on Human Rights, has noted that when he heard about this meeting, he saw it as very good news. "In view of the fact that the authorities wouldn't like to take risks and are not willing to rapprochement, now the time is for civil societies, who should take steps in this direction. Only then the authorities will listen to their opinion and start acting and looking for cooperation," said the EU Commissioner.

He also assured the delegates of the roundtable that they will be guaranteed the support of the Council of Europe.

On the outcomes of the event it was decided to set up a permanent commission to include delegates from North Ossetia and Ingushetia. The commission will promote to addressing the problems of interethnic relations between North Ossetia and Ingushetia.