Russian assistance to South Ossetia in its socio-economic development has been discussed at a meeting between Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and the head of North Ossetia, Taymuraz Mamsurov.

Monday, August 8, marks the three year anniversary of the beginning of the armed conflict in the Caucasus, also known as the five-day war, which was launched with a Georgian attack on the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinval. Shortly after the war, Moscow recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and has since supported the two republics, which share borders and historic ties with Russia.

Opening the meeting in the resort city of Sochi with Mamsurov, Putin noted “in these days it would be worth remembering the tragedy in South Ossetia, its victims and heroes who repulsed the external aggression”. He pointed out though that Russia has already given its assessment of the 2008 situation, “decisions were made and I won’t be coming back to that now”.

The prime minister suggested that the sides should discuss those issues related to the restoration of normal life in South Ossetia’s, reports Interfax.He underlined that the republic’s people are not just neighbors to the North Ossetians, but their “brothers in the full sense of the word”.He also wondered if there is anything that Russia could do to additionally assist South Ossetia.

Mamsurov said that “the tide of negative attitudes towards the way the republic is being restored has come flooding back”.He pointed out that after the war, South Ossetia was disfigured, the water supply and sewage systems were destroyed and it took a while to sort that out. And even if it might have seemed that nothing was being done, that is not true – “quite a lot was done”.

The situation on the border between South and North Ossetia, according to the Russian republic’s head, has improved and is a lot safer now. Mamsurov believes that the political situation in South Ossetia is currently stable, despite the upcoming presidential election. He expressed the opinion that the republic “is on the right path”.