S. Ossetia receives no NATO blessing

Holding presidential elections in a breakaway republic of Georgia doesn't do anything to secure regional peace, the secretary-general of NATO said Monday. The breakaway republic of South Ossetia held presidential elections during the weekend. Moscow and Tbilisi traded insults Aug. 8, the third anniversary of a Russian military response to Georgia's invasion of South Ossetia in 2008. The conflict spilled over to engulf forces from Abkhazia, another breakaway region. Moscow recognized both republics shortly after the 2008 conflict and signed agreements in 2010 to build permanent military installations there. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the Western alliance didn't recognize South Ossetia's rights to hold elections for president. "The holding of such elections does not contribute to a peaceful and lasting settlement of the situation in Georgia," he said in a statement. "The alliance reiterates its full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders." NATO sided with Georgia when Abkhazia held elections earlier this year. Russia is obliged under a 2008 cease-fire to pull its forces back to pre-conflict positions and open the areas to humanitarian assistance. Anatoly Bibilov, South Ossetia's pro-Kremlin emergency situations minister, will square off against former Education Minister Alla Dzhioyeva in a runoff before the end of the month, Radio Free Liberty/Radio Europe reports. South Ossetia's Central Election Commission said more than 66 percent of the eligible voting population turned out for the weekend contest.