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North Ossetia head for naming mountain peak after Hugo Chavez

In accordance with the federal law, naming geographical entities requires endorsement of the republic’s parliament

VLADIKAVKAZ, March 19 (Itar-Tass) – North Ossetia’s head Taimuraz Mamsurov supported the idea of naming a peak in the Great Caucasus Ridge after Hugo Chavez.

Thirty North Ossetian mountaineers had earlier scaled a nameless mountain peak 3,695 meters tall, situated in a gorge on the southern slope of the Caucasus Ridge, to commemorate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

They addressed a request to Taimuraz Mamsurov, the head of the republic, to name the mountain peak after Hugo Chavez who had played a big part in the recognition of South Ossetia’s sovereignty.

“I do approve of and support the initiative of our sports people. The formalities of naming the peak scaled will not take much time,” Mamsurov said. “The Venezuelan President belongs to our history, having recognized freedom and independence of South Ossetia. Let his name be perennialized not only in our memory but also in the name of a mountain peak. This will be fair,” Mamsurov said.

In accordance with the federal law, naming geographical entities requires endorsement of the republic’s parliament.

The plans to lay out a tourist route for scaling the peak have already been announced. Sources in the republic’s Federation of Mountaineering say that even tourists with not much training in mountaineering can cover part of the route to reach the camp from which the ascent starts.

“The route to the camp is along the Transcaucasian Highway, past medicinal springs, the famous multicolored mounts and Russia’s southernmost Orthodox nunnery,” said Kazbek Khamitsayev, the federation’s president. “I am sure that not only Russian tourists but also our friends from Venezuela will take this route as soon as next summer,” Khamitsayev said.

Moreover, a traditional international alpiniade is due in North Ossetia in August, and scaling the Peak of Hugo Chavez may be included in the competitions.