DECLARATION OF THE FIRST CONGRESS OF THE OSSETIAN PEOPLE on Restoration of National-political and Territorial Integrity of Ossetia

Ossetian people that inherited cultural valuables of ancient Skiff-Sarmanto-Alan valuables and maintaining its soil forming Ossetian nation today found themselves separated. Two centuries ago, trying to preserve the homeland and territorial-political integrity, Ossetian people voluntarily joined Russia. However, in 1920 the territory and the people of Ossetia were divided into North Ossetia included within the Russian Federation and South Ossetia that became the part of Georgia. Ossetians’ attempt to maintain unity was met with fierce resistance of Menshevik’s Georgia that resorted bloody terror against Ossetians residing in the South Ossetia. After 70 years Georgian authorities still use the policy of genocide.

Taking into account the fact of suspending the effect of the Union Treaty of 1922 and other legal acts of the USSR and expressing the will of the people of Ossetia towards the restoration of unity of the country, the extraordinary Congress of the people of Ossetia Declares:

1. The restoration of territorial integrity and national-political unity of the Ossetian People is the supreme goal through which the Ossetians will be able to preserve themselves as the nation. Ossetian people are determined to reach this goal solely through the civilized forms.

2. Restoration of Ossetia’s territorial integrity within the unified state is the only way for realization Ossetians’ right on self-determination based on voluntary union with the Russian Federation and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

This extraordinary Congress calls upon the Russian Federation and other independent states to recognize the rights of the Ossetian people to restore unified national state.

The Extraordinary Congress of the Ossetian People

Vladikavkaz, 13-14 December 1991

(Newspaper “Severnaia Ossetia”, # 254, 21 December 1991)