Tbilisi suggests Russia joint fight against smuggling in South Ossetia

Georgia has offered Russia to form a joint checkpoint in the Roksky tunnel linking Russia with Georgia via South Ossetian territory (South Ossetia is a self-proclaimed republic in Georgia).

"It will give a possibility to control cargoes and fight against smuggling," Georgian Foreign Ministry Salome Zurabishvili told journalists following the talks with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Valery Loshchinin on Friday.

According to her, the Russian side has not given its consent yet but it was well disposed to this proposal.

Moreover, at issue was the settlement of the South Ossetian conflict, Valery Loshchinin told reporters.

"We focused on the Russo-Georgian relations and expressed satisfaction with their progress. We also discussed the Georgian-Ossetian political settlement within the framework of the mixed control commission," the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister said.

On Friday evening the Russian delegation will meet with Secretary of the National Security Council Gela Bezhuashvili. After that, they will return to Moscow.