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In surprise visit to South Ossetia, Mdevedev vows military support Georgian reax (Roundup)

Jul 13, 2009, 15:43 GMT

Moscow - Russia President Dmitry Medvedev made an unannounced visit to the Georgia breakaway republic of South Ossetia on Monday, 11 months after the war in the south Caucasus, local media reported. Medvedev said he wanted to lay the foundation for further friendly relations, including military support. The Kremlin head was welcomed to the capital Tskhinvali by President Eduard Kokoity and a jubilant crowd, according to the Interfax news agency. He added that Moscow was prepared to provide South Ossetia a range of projects for economic and social reconstruction, including in the realm of military cooperation. Kokoity thanked the Russians for 'the rescue of our small people' during the war. In contrast, Georgian leaders in the Georgian capital Tbilisi sharply criticized the visit, with a government spokesman calling it 'an alarming and very destructive step.' President Mikheil Saakashvili said Medvedev's visit to the 'corrupt regime' was 'unmoral,' and Georgia's parliamentary speaker, David Bakradse claimed the visit showed Moscow could be no true partner of the international community. After a traditional reception with shish kebab, wine and pierogies, Medvedev and Kokoity retired to an administrative building for talks. Georgia and Russia went to war over South Ossetia in August 2008. Russia has since stationed thousands of troops in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another breakaway region in Georgia.

Europe News

In surprise visit to South Ossetia, Mdevedev vows military support Georgian reax (Roundup)

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