South Osetian President comments upon visit of Mikhail Saakashvili

President of South Osetia Edward Kokoity commented upon the visit the Georgian presidential contender Mikhail Saakashvili paid on January 3 to the Georgian village of Tamarasheni, which is situated on the territory of South Osetia.

Mikhail Saakashvili's visit was approved by the command of the Peacekeeping Forces, and appropriate South Osetian services were the last to be informed.

The fact that Mikhail Saakashvili was permitted to come is no more than a good will gesture of the republican leadership, said the President.

President Eduard Kokoity also commented upon the extract from Mikhail Saakashvili's speech shown by NTV TV Company when he had told that the majority of South Osetian residents would take part in the election of the Georgian president, "South Osetia did not and will not take part in Georgian elections."

While answering other journalists' questions, Eduard Kokoity said, "The living standard in South Osetia is much higher than in Georgia. They should not make hostages of those Georgians who live on the territory of South Osetia, remembering about them only before elections. They live well here and they do not miss our attention. And by the way, many of them refused to take part in the Georgian presidential election in solidarity with South Osetia."