Kokoity: South Ossetia will never be part of Russia

The President of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity has stated that his republic is not going to give up its independence and to be a part of Russia, although they are grateful to it for saving the Ossetian people.

Earlier, the Prime-TASS Agency quoted Mr Kokoity's words that South Ossetia is going to be a part of Russia and unite with North Ossetia.

"Probably, I was misunderstood. We aren't going to give up our independence, which we've won by tremendous victims, and South Ossetia is not going to be a part of Russia," Mr Kokoity has stated today.

"Yes, many people in South Ossetia speak about unification with North Ossetia as a subject of Russia, and nobody can forbid them to move similar ideas. But South Ossetia is not going to enter Russia and wishes to build civilized interstate relations with all the countries under the international law," President Kokoity has emphasized as quoted by the "Interfax".

"We're grateful to Russia for saving our nation and are going to build the closest interstate relations with the Russian Federation," said Kokoity and explained: "We plan to set up closer relations with Russia through South Ossetia's accession to the United State of Russia and Belarus."