South Ossetia ratifies customs agreement with Russia

On November 25, the MPs of South Ossetia ratified the agreement between Russia and South Ossetia on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters.

"This agreement establishes the basic principles, the contents and procedure of the state strategic planning of socio-economic development of the Republic of South Ossetia, and defines the powers of the participants of strategic planning," said Gennady Kokoev, the chairman of the parliamentary committee for construction, industry, transports and communications.

On November 20, the law on ratification of the agreement between Russia and South Ossetia was signed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

The draft agreement was brought for consideration of the MPs by the vice-speaker Yuri Dzitstsoity. After discussion, the bill was passed by the South-Ossetian Parliament in the first and final reading, the IA "Res" reports.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Georgia, the agreement has no legal force. "We can't talk about any legal document, which is signed with the separatist regimes on the occupied territories of Georgia. These documents have no legal force; they come in conflict with international guidelines and standards and violate the state sovereignty," the "GHN" quotes Nino Kalandadze, Deputy Foreign Minister, as saying.