SERGEY SHAMBA: ARMENIA WILL JUST HAVE TO BECOME NATO MEMBER-STATE

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.03.2007 17:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Currently Russia has a unique and may be the last
chance to keep his influence in South Caucasus; that is to recognize
Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Abkhazian Foreign Minister Sergey Shamba
stated. He said, Moscow must use the Kosovo precedent and make a
resolute step now, since afterwards the example of Kosovo will lose
its actuality. "Georgia and Azerbaijan will become NATO members,
after which Armenia will just have to follow their example.

Russia’s influence in the region will reduce to zero.

The only buffers between Russia and NATO in the region will become
Abkhazia and South Ossetia. These countries still are ready to defend
Russian interests.

But soon political figures of younger generation may come to power
there, who unlike us have not experienced war. And we know how they
will behave themselves occurring in the circle of NATO member-states,"
S. Shamba stressed. "Of course, reaction of the world community to
Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia will be negative. But any Russian
firm actions have always aroused dissatisfaction in the West. If
Russia does not recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia now it will mean
that politicians in Moscow do not view South Caucasus as a zone of
Russian interests. Now or never: either recognition of unrecognized,
or complete loss of influence in the region," the Abkhazian FM added,
"Moskovski Comsomolets" reports.