Russia Recognizes Abkhazia, South Ossetia
BayBak, Azerbaijan | 1730 days ago | Tuesday, 26th August , 2008 , 13:39 [pm] | Azerbaijan
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. | The lower house, the State Duma, also approved a second resolution calling on parliaments worldwide to back independence for the separatist provinces.
In Sochi, Russia’s Security Council is meeting today in an emergency session to discuss the situation, while in Moscow the focus will be on the country’s future deteriorating relationship with NATO. |
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says Russia recognizes Georgia’s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent.
The pledge comes after a resolution calling on President Medvedev to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia sailed through both houses of the Russian parliament on August 25.
The lower house, the State Duma, also approved a second resolution calling on parliaments worldwide to back independence for the separatist provinces.
In Sochi, Russia’s Security Council is meeting today in an emergency session to discuss the situation, while in Moscow the focus will be on the country’s future deteriorating relationship with NATO.
‘Violation’
In a statement on August 25, U.S. President George W. Bush said recognition would represent a violation of UN resolutions. He also said it would undermine the cease-fire that halted the brief war that broke out between Georgia and Russia after Georgian forces invaded South Ossetia on August 7 after days of exchanging mortar and small-arms fire.
“I am deeply concerned by today’s appeal to President Medvedev by Russia’s Federation Council and Duma, the upper and lower houses of Russia’s parliament, to recognize the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent countries,” Bush said. “I call on Russia’s leadership to meet its commitments and not recognize these separatist regions.
Bush also reiterated Washington’s support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the main bone of contention between Moscow and the West following the cease-fire. While withdrawing most of its troops as called for in the agreement, Moscow has left some of its troops in Georgia proper.
David Merkel, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs, reiterated the president’s message during an interview with RFE/RL’s Moldova Service on August 26.
“This is something that President Bush has spoken on, and he called on Russia’s leadership to meet its commitments and not to recognize these separatist regions. The United States, the EU, NATO all see great importance in recognizing Georgia’s territorial integrity,” Merkel said.
France, which brokered the cease-fire agreement, has called a meeting of EU leaders to be held on September 1. The following day, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney will travel to Tbilisi in a show of support for Georgia.
NATO Relationship
Meanwhile, in Moscow today Russian Ambassador to NATO Rogozin is expected to comment on Russia’s deteriorating relationship with the Western military alliance.
Rogozin on August 25 accused NATO of applying “double standards” on Russia and of departing from the “spirit of the partnership.”
Tensions have heightened further between the two powers with the growing presence of U.S. and Russian warships on the Black Sea. Two U.S. ships, including a destroyer, carrying humanitarian aid were heading for the port city of Poti.
The deputy head of the Russian military’s General Staff, Colonel General Anatoly Nogovitsyn said in Moscow today that “the heightened activity of NATO ships in the Black Sea perplexes us.”
Washington has harshly criticized the continued presence of Russian troops in the vicinity of the key trade port of Poti, while the Russian military officials have questioned the nature of U.S. aid and heightened activity of NATO ships on the black sea.rferl
, Voice of a Nation[1] Print
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