ARMENIA NOT TO RECOGNIZE GEORGIAN REBELS

AzerNews Weekly
Sept 10 2008
Azerbaijan

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian has said his country could not
recognize the independence of Georgia`s rebellious regions of Abkhazia
and South Ossetia as long as the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno)
Garabagh conflict remains unresolved.

"Armenia will not recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as was the
case with Kosovo," Sarkisian told a meeting with representatives of
Armenian embassies and consulates operating abroad.

The Armenian leader said the recent Georgia-Russia conflict had
inflicted serious damage to all Caucasus states, including Armenia,
and stressed the need for establishing peace in the region.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree on August 26
recognizing the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgia
said Russia`s move was contrary to international law. The world
community also labeled it as a policy of occupation. The decision
heightened tensions in the Caucasus region and put a further strain
on Moscow`s relations with the West.

The separatist regions have been recognized, so far, only by Russia and
Nicaragua, as well as Hamas and Hezbollah terror groups of Palestine.