Congress of Osetian people: North and South are together again

The 5th congress of the Osetian people opened in Vladikavkaz on October 25. The organizer of it is the well-known public organization "Alanty Nikhas". President of North Osetia Aleksandr Dzasokhov and President of South Osetia Eduard Kokoity attended the congress. Over 280 participants from North and South Osetia, from diasporas of Moscow, Saint Petersburg and other regions of Russia and foreign countries arrived at the congress.

The election of the head of "Alanty Nikhas" and adoption of a new statute were on the agenda. While presenting his one-hour report, chairman of the organization Mikhail Gioyev devoted his special attention to the issue of unification of North and South Osetia and to the problem of settlement of Osetian-Ingush relationships and development of the Osetian language.

Touching upon the Osetian-Ingush question, speakers noted some progress achieved and positive changes in the settlement of the conflict of 1992. As for Georgian-Osetian relationships, the trend here was more tough and of confrontation nature. President of South Osetia Eduard Kokoity said, "The people of South Osetia have made their choice, they want to unite with North Osetia and are not about to go back from it."

The previous congress of the Osetian people took place in 1999.