Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will meet with South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity on Friday to discuss post-war reconstruction in the former Georgian republic of South Ossetia, the Kremlin press service said.
"The talks will focus on Russia's assistance in rebuilding infrastructure and residential sector destroyed as a result of Georgian aggression two years ago — in August 2008," a Kremlin spokesman told RIA Novosti.
Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov earlier said Moscow's total aid to the republic would stand at 28 billion rubles ($916 million). South Ossetia has already received 4.7 billion rubles ($154 million), and will get 6.8 billion rubles ($222 million) next year.
During their meeting in the southern Russian city of Sochi the presidents will also discuss security in the Caucasus region.
The meeting comes several days after the Russian leader's visit to another former Georgian republic, Abkhazia.
Medvedev and Kokoity have already met twice this year — during the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on May 9 and at a horse racing event in the Southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don on June 1.
Moscow recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent after the five-day war with Georgia in August 2008 and has since been the guarantor of their security.
Russia also signed earlier this year agreements with South Ossetia and Abkhazia on establishing permanent Russian military bases there. On August 11 Russia announced the deployment of the S-300 air defense systems in Abkhazia.
MOSCOW, August 13 (RIA Novosti)
