In January, South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity asked the Russian ambassador to Georgia, Vyacheslav Kovalenko, for Russia's assistance to set up an official meeting between the Georgian and South Ossetian leaders.
"Moscow believes that the proposal forwarded by South Ossetia to hold a meeting between the Georgian and South Ossetian presidents is still relevant. Direct dialogue at the highest level between Tbilisi and Tskhinvali is urged to search for real ways to finally settle the conflict," Mikhail Kamynin said.
"The Russian side confirms its readiness to assist in organizing and holding such a meeting," he said.
Kamynin said that two terrorist attacks carried out in the breakaway region in February and March could be traced to Georgia: "In both cases the professionalism in the organization of the criminal acts and the explosives used in the devices was apparent."
On February 28, a bomb exploded leaving two dead and 17 injured in the town of Dmenisi. And on March 23, two servicemen were seriously wounded when a booby trap exploded in the Znaur District.
Kamynin said Russia urged both sides to display maximum restraint.
Shortly after Kosovo declared its independence on February 17, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, along with Moldova's Transdnestr, asked Russia's parliament, the United Nations and other organizations to recognize their independence.
Both Abkhazia and South Ossetia were involved in bloody conflicts with Georgia after proclaiming independence following the split-up of the Soviet Union in 1991.
