NATO's statements supporting Georgia have become ritual, - de- facto foreign ministry of occupied Tskhinvali/South Ossetia region said responding to the statement by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who called on Russia to withdraw its recognition of so-called independence of " South Ossetia ".

“The consolidated position of NATO towards South Ossetia and Abkhazia is well known and such calls together with the statements supporting Georgia have become a ritual," the de facto ministry said.

So called foreign ministry also noted that "establishment of inter-state relations between South Ossetia and Russia is in compliance with the norms and principles of international law".

“Amid Georgia’s refusal to sign the agreement on non-use of force and its efforts to transfer the results of its aggression to the space of the Georgian-Russian relations, South Ossetia reserves the right to secure its security and strengthen the united defensive space with Russia,” the de- facto foreign ministry said.