Welcome to the website for the Republic of South Ossetia. We are a small nation located on the southern slopes of the Caucasus Mountains. Our history is marked by our struggle to maintain our distinct identity while being a good neighbor and supporting peace and justice in our region. On this website, you will be introduced to our centuries-old culture and learn more about the progress we have made as an independent nation. If you know someone who might want to learn about South Ossetia, please invite them to visit our site.
Ossetian Pie: A Feast for the Gods
In Ossetia a collective meal called "kuvd" with its toast-prayers serves as the main expression of reverence for God. The Ossetians turn to God in joy and in sorrow; whether it is a wedding, or a funeral, family meeting, or birthday, there is always an occasion for a feast. Not surprisingly, the process of food preparation and the eating customs of the ancient Ossetian culture are ritual and ceremonial in nature, and play an important role in the socio-cultural life of the people.
Boiled meat, starchy foods, and Ossetian cheese constitute staple products of Ossetian cuisine, which has its roots in hearty food needed to sustain farmers, hunters, and shepherds, who worked long days in the country's rugged mountains.. The Ossetian pie is made of a juicy filling wrapped in yeasty dough. The traditional shape of the pie is round with a whole in the middle, while triangular pies are baked for special festive occasions... READ MORE
South Ossetia: Life By Tradition
South Ossetians draw strengh from their long history and strong traditions.
Issues Points Interview:
Doug Bandow, Senior Fellow with the Cato Institute, Washington, D.C.
IP: What is your assessment of the current situation in the Caucasus?
Bandow: The situation remains relatively unstable with relations between Georgia and Russia, and Georgia and Abkhazia and South Ossetia, continuing to be very negative. The political situation in Georgia remains rather unstable as well. President Mikheil Saakashvikli is under domestic political pressure and appears determined to press ahead with an aggressive stance towards the seceding territories and towards Moscow. So there is reason for concern.
IP: U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, who is the Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, recently released a report that calls on the U.S. and NATO to craft a "comprehensive, transparent approach to security assistance and military sales in the region" that would include resumption in the arms sales halted after the August 2008 war. Do you agree or disagree with Sen. Lugar's recommendation and why?
Bandow: I believe it is dangerous to talk about increased military sales to Georgia. I'm not saying that the US should forgo in principle providing defensive weapons to countries if they are involved in potential conflict situations, but weapons should not be provided to parties which show aggressive intent. Look at the contrast between Taiwan and Georgia. The Obama Administration is preparing a new weapons package for Taiwan, which makes a lot of sense in terms of empowering Taiwan to defend itself against China. But no one believes Taiwan is likely to start a war... READ MORE
More Issues Points Interviews:
The West's Moral Failure Over Georgia
The free nations of Abkhazia and South Ossetia are threatened by western complicity in our isolation and intimidation by Georgia
By Sergei Bagapsh and Eduard Kokoity
Op-Ed in The Guardian
August 6, 2009
One year ago, Georgia's leaders ordered a military attack on unarmed civilians in South Ossetia. By any common understanding this action was a war crime and the ensuing conflict led to recognised independence for Abkhazia and South Ossetia, of which we are the elected leaders.
From the moment of the Georgian attack there has been a vast moral abdication in the west, among politicians, intellectuals and media - a failure to honestly confront what Georgia did. This moral failure has profound consequences for us and it is preventing western leadership from dealing realistically with the new boundaries of nationhood here... READ MORE
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