LAVROV: THE RECOGNITION OF ABKHAZIA AND S. OSSETIA AS INDEPENDENT STATES MUSTN’T BE A PRECEDENT FOR KARABAKH

The FINANCIAL
Sept 16 2008
Georgia

The FINANCIAL — Russia signed a treaty with breakaway regions of
Georgia, formalizing military and economic ties between MOSCOW ,
South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

According to Bulletin, Russia and Nicaragua are the only nations
thus far to recognize the independence of the separatist provinces,
moving to do so after the five-day war between Georgia and Russia in
August. The recognition was widely perceived to be retaliation for
the American recognition of Kosovo in February.

"The just-signed treaties stipulate that our countries shall be
taking joint necessary measures to eliminate the threat to peace,
address problems in this sphere and resist acts of aggression," said
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said to Itar- Tass news agency. "A
repeat of the Georgian aggression … would lead to a catastrophe
on a regional scale, so no one should be in doubt that we will not
allow new military adventures."

Kyiv Post reports that, Parliament in Ukraine ‘s Crimea peninsula,
defying the country’s pro-Western leaders, called on the national
parliament to follow Russia’s example and recognize Georgia’s two
separatist regions.

The recognition by Russia of Georgia’s Abkhazia and South Ossetia as
independent states does not set a precedent for other post-Soviet
breakaway regions, Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov said on
September 18, RIA-Novosti reports.

According to RIA-Novosti, Lavrov said that unlike Georgia, other
ex-Soviet states involved in territorial disputes do not plan to use
military force to resolve them. "There can be no parallels here,"
he said.

Lavrov said Russia is committed to its mediation efforts in disputes
between Moldova and its breakaway Transdnestr Region, mainly populated
by ethnic Russians and Ukrainian s, and Armenia-Azerbaijan talks on
the disputed Nagorny Karabakh territory.

According to China View, in Aug. 7 Georgia launched attack on South
Ossetia, which has enjoyed de facto independence since 1992, in an
attempt to retake control of the region. Russia sent troops into the
region on the next day and defeated Georgian forces in a five-day war.

The West accused Russia of bullying its small neighbor. But MOSCOW
argued that its military operations were intended to protect civilians
and enforce peace in the region. Russia’s recognition of the two
regions as independent states on Aug. 26 further enraged the West.