SERGEY SHAMBA: WE SPEAK FOR RUSSIA’S PRESENCE IN CAUCASUS, WE DON’T WANT TO NATO

Regnum, Russia
Feb 19 2007

"The statement that the Kosovo precedent is unique and it cannot
be spread to our republics is at least naïve. It is a part of the
process occurring after the collapse of the USSR and the Warsaw Treaty
Organization, when many countries were granted independence.

Now, another stage is taking place: big autonomies start becoming
independent," Abkhaz Foreign Minister Sergey Shamba announced at a
news conference in Moscow on Friday, a REGNUM correspondent informs.

"Opinions differ among Russian experts whether Abkhazia’s independence
is worth recognizing. Some people say it is dangerous, and it must
not be done. We can answer to it like this: Georgia will soon become
a NATO member, what Armenia will do after that? And Azerbaijan? And
what should Abkhazia and South Ossetia do in this case? And how will
peoples of North Caucasus behave after that? The question is here,
whether Russia needs Caucasus and Transcaucasus? If not, independence
of Abkhazia and South Ossetia does not need to be recognized and then
the region will enter NATO," Shamba believes.

"From our side, we speak for Russia’s presence in the area. We don’t
want to go to NATO!" the minister said.

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