Russia has no plans to integrate South Ossetia into its payment system

Russia is providing expert support for establishing the

financial system of South Ossetia, but any integration of payment

systems is out of the question, the head of the administrative

department of the Federal Treasury Andrey Gurovich said.

"Information on the possible integration of the payment systems in Russia

and South Ossetia is not true. Russia's help in the development of

the financial system of South Ossetia is purely advisory in nature,"

Gurovich is quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.

Some Russian media earlier reported that the integration of South

Ossetia into the Russian payment system was discussed at a recent

meeting of the prime minister of North Ossetia Sergei Takoev with

Deputy Head of the Federal Treasury Stanislav Prokofiev.

This report caused a strong reaction from the Georgian side.

Integration of South Ossetia into the payment system of the Russian

Federation will stop the "positive dynamics" in relations between

Tbilisi and Moscow, the Georgian Foreign Ministry said today.

"Implementation of such solutions will be a sad step backward in the

positive dynamics of bilateral relations that has taken place in

recent years," News-Georgia quotes the statement.