DUSHANBE, August 26, 2008, Asia-Plus – Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says Russia has formally recognized the independence of the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Medvedev has signed decrees on the recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on August 26, Itar-Tass reported.
“Proceeding from the current situation a decision had to be made,” Medvedev said in a statement issued on Tuesday. “Bearing in mind the free expression of their will by the Ossetian and Abkhazian peoples, and guided by the UN Charter, the declaration of 1970 on the principles of international law regarding friendly relations between states, the Helsinki Final Act of 1975 and other fundamental international documents I have signed decrees on the recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by the Russian Federation.”
Medvedev called on all other countries to follow suit.
“That was a no easy choice to make, but it is the sole chance of saving people’s lives,” he said.
The move follows a vote in both houses of parliament on Monday, calling on him to recognize the regions” independence.
BBC News reports that the move comes in defiance of a specific plea from US President George W Bush not to recognize the separatist regions. Analysts say the move is likely to further escalate tensions between Russia and the West, according to BBC News.
The US state department had said recognition of the two provinces” independence would be “a violation of Georgian territorial integrity” and “inconsistent with international law”.
In a statement, Mr. Bush called on Russia”s leadership to “meet its commitments and not recognize these separatist regions”.
BBC News also said that earlier on Tuesday, Russia cancelled a visit by NATO’s secretary general, one of a series of measures to suspend co-operation with the military alliance. Russia”s ambassador to NATO said the trip would be delayed until relations between the two were clarified. Dmitry Rogozin said a “new understanding” needed to be reached between Russia and NATO.
