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Russia Votes To Recognize Independence
Of Breakaway Regions |
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August 24, 2008 Russia's parliament voted
unanimously Monday to urge the president to
recognize the independence of Georgia's two
breakaway regions, stoking further tensions
between Moscow and the small Caucasus nation's
Western allies.
The votes by both chambers of Russia's
parliament, which were not legally binding,
come as the White House announced Vice
President Dick Cheney would travel to three
former Soviet republics next week _ Georgia,
Ukraine and Azerbaijan.
"Russia's historic role of the guarantor of
peace in the Caucasus has increased," said
Boris Gryzlov, speaker of the lower chamber.
"The Caucasus has always been and will remain
the zone of Russia's strategic interests."
Reaction from the West was swift. The United
States said Russian recognition of South
Ossetia and Abkhazia "would be unacceptable."
"Russia needs to respect the territorial
integrity of Georgia," said State Department
spokesman Robert Wood.
The continued presence of Russian troops in
Georgia after a lightning war over the
separatist regions of South Ossetia and
Abkhazia has sunk relations between Russia and
the West to a post-Cold War low. Western
nations have accused Russia of reneging on its
commitment to withdraw forces from U.S.-allied
Georgia.
The European Union immediately declared after
the Russian vote that South Ossetia and
Abkhazia should remain in Georgia. German
Chancellor Angela Merkel said recognizing the
two separatist provinces would create a "very
difficult, critical situation" in regard to
Georgia's territorial integrity.
The vice president's office described Cheney's
trip, which begins Sept. 2 and also includes a
stop in Italy, where the U.S. has a major
base, only in the broadest terms, saying
President Bush wants his No. 2 to consult with
key partners on matters of mutual interest.
Experts say the Russian parliament's blessing
of the Georgian separatists gives the Kremlin
extra leverage as Russia tries to reassert its
influence in the former Soviet republics and
resist moves by Georgia and Ukraine to join
NATO.
Currently, neither Russia nor any other U.N.
member recognizes the two provinces'
independence claims. Both won de-facto
independence in the 1990s after wars with
Georgia, and have survived since with Russia's
financial, political and military support.
"Neither Abkhazia ... nor South Ossetia will
be part of the Georgian state," Abkhazian
leader Sergei Bagapsh told the upper chamber
of Russia's parliament Monday.
Despite their desire for independence, one or
both regions could eventually be absorbed into
Russia.
"Ossetians have no doubts _ we'll only be with
Russia," said Robert Bestayev, 36, a beaming
South Ossetian military communications officer
in Tskhinvali, the provincial capital.
Russia's critics say the conflict in Georgia
heralds a new, worrying era in which an
increasingly assertive Kremlin has shown
itself ready to resort to military force
outside its borders.
After Georgia tried to reassert control of
South Ossetia by force Aug. 7, Russian troops
overwhelmed the Georgians, and for nearly two
weeks occupied positions deep within Georgia.
Most Russian forces withdrew Friday, although
some troops continue to operate near the Black
Sea port of Poti and just outside the
boundaries of the breakaway regions.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called a
special meeting of EU leaders Sept. 1 to
discuss aid to Georgia and future relations
with Russia. France holds the 27-member bloc's
rotating presidency. French Foreign Minister
Bernard Kouchner, however, said Monday the EU
was not considering any sanctions against
Moscow.
Ukraine, like Georgia, has angered Moscow by
courting the West and seeking NATO membership.
President Viktor Yushchenko said last week
that the Russian offensive demonstrated that
joining NATO is the only way Ukraine can
ensure its security.
In a show staged for Russian eyes, Ukraine
paraded tanks and other military hardware
during Independence Day celebrations Sunday
for the first time since 2001.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signaled for
calm in the face of Western criticism. NATO
has suspended operations of its vehicle for
cooperation with Russia over the Georgia
crisis, but Medvedev said Monday there would
be "nothing frightening" for Russia if the
alliance were to sever ties altogether.
On Sunday, a U.S. Navy destroyer loaded with
humanitarian aid reached Georgia's Black Sea
port of Batumi, bringing baby food, milk,
bottled water and a message of support for an
embattled ally.
The guided missile cruiser, carrying about 55
tons of humanitarian aid, was the first of
three American ships scheduled to arrive this
week.
But the deputy chief of Russia's general staff
suggested Monday the arrival of U.S. and other
NATO warships in the Black Sea would only
increase tensions. Russia shares the sea with
NATO members Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria, as
well as Georgia and Ukraine.
The South Ossetian government, meanwhile,
accused Georgian forces of taking control of
three villages on the edge of the breakaway
region Monday after Russian troops withdrew.
Acting Prime Minister Boris Chochiyev said a
delegation was dispatched for negotiations.
"We are hoping to resolve this situation
peacefully. And if that doesn't work out,
there are other methods," he said.
Georgian Interior Ministry official Shota
Utiashvili said Georgian police were in the
villages, not soldiers. He said the villages
were under Georgian control before the
fighting began Aug. 7, and under the EU-brokered
cease-fire Georgia has the right to station
police there.
"We haven't seized anything," he said. |
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