VOLZHSKY UTYOS (Samara Region), September 25 (RIA Novosti) - Border controls between Russia and South Ossetia could cease to exist under provisions included in a recently- signed bilateral friendship and cooperation agreement, the Russian premier said on Thursday.

Vladimir Putin said it would be good if Russia, while "assisting in the economic restoration of South Ossetia," could provide an opportunity for people "to freely communicate without restrictions, without formalities at the state border."

Russia signed friendship and cooperation treaties with South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another breakaway Georgian province, on September 17, promising the republics military and economic support.

Putin said it would be necessary to draft and sign another document - one which would ensure the security of Russia's state borders while also doing away with "administrative obstacles" on the Russian-South Ossetian border.

Russia recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states last month after a brief armed conflict with Georgia. The five-day war began when Georgia attacked South Ossetia on August 8.

Putin also said he believed that Russian and Georgian relations would improve in the future, despite the fact that the countries currently have no diplomatic ties.

"This is a country," Putin said of Georgia, "that is close to us...one with which we have centuries-long contacts and ties."

After Russia recognized the Georgian rebel republics, Tbilisi announced it was severing all diplomatic ties with Moscow. It also gave notice of its withdrawal from the Commonwealth of Independent States, an alliance of former Soviet republics.