Caucasus Press Review (March 21-28)

South Ossetia is experiencing a shortage of highly qualified specialists in various fields. As part of the financial assistance provided by Russia, funds were allocated for this purpose, the newspaper ‘South Ossetia’ reports. In November 2015 a competition commission was formed, headed by the head of the South Ossetian government staff Oleg Gagloyev, the Russian recruitment agency was selected, which has solid experience in recruitment, including for such major companies as JSC Gazprom and the Russian Olympic Committee. A state agreement was reach on the involvement of Russian specialists in work in South Ossetia on conditions of civil contracts. According to the head of the government apparatus, four Russian specialists are working in South Ossetia at this moment. Two of them are occupied with the issues of upgrading the health and education systems of the country. One specialist deals with issues of housing and communal services and the tariff regulation, and one assesses the efficiency of the financial and economic activities of the South Ossetian state’s unitary enterprises, as well as the development of the program of development of small and medium-sized enterprises. Along with the performance of their tasks, the specialists from the Russian Federation share their experience with their South Ossetian colleagues, provide both methodological and practical assistance that will enhance the skill level of the employees of ministries and departments. "Each of them will work in our country for a year. We expect another eight specialists from Russia in the upcoming months— an endoscopist, a child neuropsychiatrist, specialists in the field of housing and communal services, construction and economics. The terms of their stay in South Ossetia will be determined separately in each case, taking into account the established goals of the working plan that they have to perform,‘’ Gagloyev said. According to him, systematic monitoring to assess the effectiveness of the involved professionals is provided.

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The newspaper ‘Dagestani Truth’ reported that the chairman of the government, Abdusamad Hamidov, met with representatives of the International Association ‘The Great Silk Road. Trade Asia — Europe', one of the priorities of which is the development of trade relations between Asia and Europe, the implementation of the export-import capacity to attract investments in the manufacturing sector. Currently the association is developing a Northern Vehicle Transport Route, which runs to Europe via Kazakhstan and Russia. "Our goal is to start the development of the Silk Road in Russia from the Republic of Dagestan, making it a center of the international trade and partnership for the implementation of the planned goals, which are important both in the political and economic aspects, as the Silk Road is being built through the ‘great steppe' and Dagestan is located on the border,’’ the first vice-president of the Association, Eugene Zaikin, said. It was also noted that joint efforts will help to develop the tourism industry in Dagestan, which has a significant influence on the development of the regional economy as a whole. Zaikin said that the association has established close ties with the Chinese partners. Recently the central office of the Association was opened together with the representatives of China in Alma-Ata, permits for activities on the territory of the Eurasian Union were obtained. The Chinese side has expressed its willingness to invest in the construction of the agro-industrial complex, plants and turn-key factories. They only need a guarantee from the region’s authorities for the implementation of the joint projects.

The Dagestani Prime Minister said that the country is ready to cooperate. The republic has implemented a number of successful joint investment projects. Dagestan has great potential in all sectors, in addition, there is a surplus of labor. The development of tourism will promote not only employment, but also the development of folk art and crafts, increase the tax revenues to budgets of different levels. The Republic has everything necessary for the development of spa treatment, recreation and tourism. "For the implementation of joint projects at the legislative level a necessary package of documents was adopted, including providing guarantees to the investors. The legal framework for business on the territory of Dagestan is one of the best in the Russian Federation," the Prime Minister stated. He noted that today Dagestan is ready to propose projects for joint activities in almost all areas. The design and estimate documentation has been approved for many of them. Following the meeting a memorandum of cooperation was signed.

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Georgia should declare military neutrality, and work in this direction should be started with the United States, Russia, Europe, China and Iran, the leader of the coalition NGO ‘Eurasian Choice of Georgia’, Archil Chkoidze, said. The politician, whose opinion the newspaper ‘Free Georgia’ leads, believes that it is beside the point to talk seriously about Georgia joining NATO, as it is an unrealistic goal for the country, and the leaders of the leading countries of the alliance say directly that Georgia would never be able to join the organization. "NATO is a candy in a beautiful wrapper, which we are offered,’’ the politician said. ‘’But in reality we are asked to become not a member, but a bridgehead of the organization, which at any moment can start a conflict with the same Russia or it can be used, for example, against Iran. And it will be disastrous for the country.’’ Chkoidze is convinced that joining NATO is not a choice for Georgian society, along with a number of high-ranking officials of the former and current government. In his view, the most advantageous position for Georgia would be military neutrality. On the territory of the country there should be no soldiers of any country, including  Russia. Georgia should discuss these issues with Russia and with the United States, Europe and China, which should become guarantors of the country's military neutrality. For them and for the whole world a neutral Georgia would be much more advantageous as a country, where all these entities will be able to carry out their geopolitical interests to some extent, than a Georgia which will support some superstate and subsequently enter into confrontation with the interests of other large states. "This will prevent us from developing our region and they won’t be able to achieve peace in the region or pursue their own geopolitical interests. Georgia needs to balance its policy, but does not take any side or turn into a puppet of any state,"  Chkoidze is convinced.

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Health needs emergency treatment. Thus, according to the newspaper ‘North Ossetia’, a recent meeting between the acting head of North Ossetia Vyacheslav Bitarova with the head physicians of the medical institutions of the republic can be characterized. Bitarov noted that today before a person gets to a hospital, he surmounts a lot of obstacles, starting with an ambulance. At the same time, everyone knows that these troubles are accompanied by a call to the ‘right person’, otherwise there is no guarantee that the patient will receive the necessary assistance in the hospital. Many doctors behave in a boorish, rude manner, especially with those who do not have the ‘right’ friends. Many officials to whom Bitarov voiced the problems said that huge sums are necessary to restore order in medical institutions. "But do we need a lot of money to bring order and clean out the hospitals? In order to treat patients with respect and understanding?" he asked.

The acting head of the republic then drew attention to inefficient spending. He cannot understand how a head physician can receive a salary of 100 thousand rubles or higher, if other employees receive several times, even ten times less. Bitarov promised to deal very harshly with each separate official. Moreover, this applies not only to doctors, but to all state employees. The head of the republic drew attention to the fact that hospitals do not pay the utility services on time, the hospitals are poorly provided with food. "Budget funds should not leak into the pockets of thieves and dishonest people. How can we name differently those who do not scruple to take money from sick children, old people?’’ Bitarov asks. All these problems should be taken under the personal responsibility of every manager. He gave instructions to create a republican commission, which will conduct a full analysis of the financial and economic status of all health facilities.

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The newspaper ‘Ingushetia’ writes about the work of the region's first equestrian school, which was opened in December last year. The unique sports facility located on the outskirts of Karabulak was called ‘Wild Division’. A famous regiment, whose soldiers covered themselves with unfading glory during the First World War, much of the credit for which belongs to their horses as well, had this name. The idea of ​​the creation of the equestrian school belongs to the Mogushkov brothers, the owners of the farm ‘Argamak’, which has more than 20 years of experience in breeding horses. They are, in fact, the only professional breeders in the country. The construction of the facility began in 2014. A two-storey administrative building with offices for instructors and coaches, a great arena, a platform for the display of horses, stables for more than 30 horses and fields for competitions are located on an area of ​​15 ha. A sponsor of the 15-million-ruble project was the concern ‘Rosneft’, with the assistance of the head of the republic, Yunus-bek Yevkurov. Guests from the Moscow Institute of horse breeding visit the farm annually, and they note that a special type of horse forms here that could be a precursor to the emergence of the Ingush horses, on which the selection team has been working tirelessly. The Akhal-Teke, English, Terzi and Arabs are cultivated here. Among 24 stallions and mares, living under the roof of the school, there a lot of famous ‘athletes’. As a result of recent competitions at the district and federal levels, two of them were issued licenses, allowing them to take part in the European Championships, one obtained a license to participate in the world championship. An office of hippotherapy works in the school. The treatment with horseriding is becoming increasingly popular among families with sick children, who are prescribed this kind of therapy. It is carried out under the supervision of an experienced specialist from St. Petersburg. According to the calculations of the national authorities, the opening of the school will give impetus to the development of  equestrian tourism in the region. In the mountainous part of Ingushetia it is planned to organize paid horseback riding for tourists and visiting lessons in horsemanship.