Federation Council and Parliament of South Ossetia sign agreement on interstate parliamentary cooperation

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Sep 2 2008, Russia's Federation Council and Parliament of South Ossetia signed agreement on interstate parliamentary cooperation, REGNUM correspondent reports. The document provides for development of all forms of interstate parliamentary cooperation between the countries. Parliaments of South Ossetia and Russia will ensure that human rights are observed, promote strengthening of mutually beneficial economic ties, development of contacts in the fields of culture, education, environmental protection, and others. The sides agree to cooperate in harmonizing Russian and South Ossetian legislation and ensuring mutual access to information funds and data banks.

To organize and coordinate cooperation between the parliaments, a standing Commission for cooperation will be established. It will promote development of interstate of parliamentary ties, hold consultations, and analyze the state of the cooperation. The Commission is also entitled with introducing suggestions on development of these ties.

The structure of the Commission will be defined Sep 19, Chairman of the Federation Council Sergey Mironov informed after the agreement had been signed. He said that the sides have already agreed on the number of Commission members.

Mironov noted that the interstate parliamentary agreement is itself a step in recognition of the RSO independent status.

Analogous agreement with Abkhazia is to be signed shortly, Mironov said.