Parties to South Ossetia crisis reach compromiseDecember 10, 2011 - 14:18 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity has agreed to step down as part of a compromise agreement with opposition leader and former presidential candidate Alla Dzhioyeva, a source in the South Ossetian presidential administration said. The situation in restive South Ossetia, a self-proclaimed republic in Georgia, heated up after Dzhioyeva won the November 27 runoff against a Kremlin-backed rival, according to preliminary results. Two days later, the republic's Supreme Court annulled the voting results, citing violations. Supporters of Dzhioyeva, who has declared herself president despite the court’s ruling, have been holding demonstrations on the main square of the republic’s capital, Tskhinvali, ever since. In exchange for Kokoity’s resignation, which is expected to be announced later on Saturday, Dzhioyeva has agreed to urge her supporters to go home. Prime Minister Vadim Brovtsev has been appointed acting president to run the republic until new presidential elections, which will be held on March 25. In line with the agreement, signed late on Friday following consultations with Russian presidential administration official Sergei Vinokurov, Dzhioyeva will be allowed to run in the polls. Dzhioyeva has been banned from running in the new elections by a Supreme Court ruling. The agreement provides for the dismissal of Supreme Court chairman Atsmaz Bichenov, as well as South Ossetian Prosecutor General Taimuraz Khugayev and his deputy Eldar Kokoyev. Dzhioyeva told journalists following the signing of the agreement that she was ready to drop her presidential bid in favor of a new “decent” candidate, a “political heavyweight,” RIA Novosti reported. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |