Russia hopes other countries will also recognize S.Ossetia, Abkhazia

13:41 | 06/ 09/ 2008

MOSCOW, September 6 (RIA Novosti) – Russia hopes other countries will
follow Nicaragua’s example and recognize the independence of Georgia’s
breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the Foreign Ministry
said Saturday.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega issued a decree Friday to officially
recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and Nicaragua
has so far become the first country after Russia to recognize the two
republics as independent states.

"Moscow has found deep satisfaction in Nicaragua’s decision to
recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. We would like
other countries to deem it possible to recognize reality while
following this example. And the reality is that both South Ossetia and
Abkhazia are from now on independent states open for equal interaction
with all members of the international community," the ministry said.

Russia recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia on August 26, two weeks
after it had concluded its operation "to force Georgia to peace." The
operation came in response to an attack by Georgian forces on breakaway
South Ossetia on August 8.

Ortega announced on Tuesday during ceremonies for the 29th anniversary
of the founding of the Latin American state’s army that "Nicaragua
recognizes the independence of S. Ossetia and Abkhazia and fully
supports the Russian government’s position."

Both South Ossetia and Abkhazia broke away from Tbilisi in the early
1990s after bloody conflicts with Georgia. Russia later granted
citizenship to the majority of residents of the two pro-Russian
regions.

Russia has now withdrawn its regular troops from Georgia, but insists
it can maintain checkpoints in security zones near the regions under
the ceasefire deal brokered by France. Moscow has also accused Tbilisi
of building up troops near South Ossetia.

Western nations have strongly criticized Russia for its
"disproportionate" response to Georgia’s attack and the recognition of
Georgia’s breakaway provinces. NATO-Russia cooperation has also been
frozen.

Ortega, who led a Soviet-backed government that battled U.S.-supported
Contra rebels in the late 1980s, sharply criticized the West for
attempting to surround Russia and investing millions of dollars through
NATO to "build a military fence against Russia."