Georgian State Minister to Discuss Roki Pass with North Ossetian Leader

Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Goga Khaindrava, who is currently visiting Vladikavkaz to participate in a session of the Joint Control Commission, will meet with the President of Russia?s North Ossetian Republic on November 20.
 
?The issue of joint control of the Roki pass will top the talks with [President Alexander] Dzasokhov. This issue is directly linked with the economic cooperation between Georgia and North Ossetia,? Khaindrava told reporters on November 19.

Tbilisi insists that Georgian forces be involved in the monitoring of the tunnel at Roki pass, which links breakaway South Ossetia with Russia?s North Ossetian Republic. The Georgian side claims that the Roki pass is a main route for the delivery of arms and smuggled goods from Russia into South Ossetia. But officials in breakaway South Ossetian are categorically against joint control of the vital pass.