Russia | 26.08.2008
Russia Recognizes Breakaway Georgian Provinces
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev gives a speech with a Russian flag in the background
Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Medvedev called on others to recognize the provinces' independence
Russian President Dmitry has signed a decree recognizing the independence of Georgia's rebel regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia, despite pressure from the West to honor Georgia's territorial integrity.
"In the current crisis it became necessary to make a decision," Medvedev said in a nationally televised statement Tuesday, Aug. 26. "Taking into consideration the will of the people and guided by the UN Charter of 1970 ... and other basic international law, I have signed a decree recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia."
"It is not an easy choice, but it is the only way to protect the lives of civilians," the president said after meeting with Russia's security chiefs.
Ties ice over
The move is likely to deepen the wedge in Russia's relations with the West, which views South Ossetia and Abkhazia as part of Georgia. Russian stocks fell Tuesday, with traders anticipating an increase in international tension.
Local residents line up while waiting for the distribution of humanitarian aid in the city of Gori in central GeorgiaBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Resident of Gori, South Ossetia, received aid after their city was devastated by the fighting
France, which brokered the ceasefire agreement between Russia and Georgia, criticized the Kremlin's decision.
"We consider this a regrettable decision and I recall our attachment to the territorial integrity of Georgia," said a spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday reiterated her support for Georgia's territorial integrity just prior to the announcement from Moscow.
"It is our position that the recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia does not conform to international law," Merkel said while visiting the Estonian capital Tallinn, adding that Medvedev's move was "absolutely not acceptable."
Similarly, the European Union just minutes prior to Medvedev's announcement expressed its opposition to recognizing the independence of the two breakaway provinces.
Russia's NATO envoy, Dmitry Rogozin, compared the current situation to Europe in 1914 on the eve of World War I, "when, because of one terrorist, leading world powers clashed," he told the RBK Daily business newspaper. War broke out after Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in August 1914.
Accusations of genocide
In his statement issued Tuesday, Medvedev condemned Georgia's offensive to reclaim South Ossetia earlier this month.
Girls ride on a car while holding Russian, left, and South Ossetian separatists' flags in Tskhinvali, the capital of Georgia's separatist-controlled territory of South OssetiaBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: The West has largely opposed recognizing the provinces
"On the night of August 8th, Tbilisi had a choice: (Georgian President) Saakashvili opted for genocide," said the Russian president. "With this choice Saakashvili wiped out all hope of a peaceful coexistence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia under one government."
Russia and Georgia fought a brief but bloody war over South Ossetia with Russia's army moving deep into Georgia after repelling the Georgian offensive.
On Tuesday the Kremlin convened the security council at the president's Black Sea residence in Sochi to review a plea by Russia's parliament for recognition of the two Georgian breakaway regions. Russia's powerful Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was also in attendance.
The United States, a staunch ally of Georgia, rebuked Russia's parliament over the resolution Monday, saying it was "deeply concerned."
The European Union, which has been critical of Russia's military involvement in Georgia, has called for a special summit on Sept. 1 to discuss the crisis in the region.
DW staff (kjb)
dw
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev gives a speech with a Russian flag in the background
Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Medvedev called on others to recognize the provinces' independence
Russian President Dmitry has signed a decree recognizing the independence of Georgia's rebel regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia, despite pressure from the West to honor Georgia's territorial integrity.
"In the current crisis it became necessary to make a decision," Medvedev said in a nationally televised statement Tuesday, Aug. 26. "Taking into consideration the will of the people and guided by the UN Charter of 1970 ... and other basic international law, I have signed a decree recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia."
"It is not an easy choice, but it is the only way to protect the lives of civilians," the president said after meeting with Russia's security chiefs.
Ties ice over
The move is likely to deepen the wedge in Russia's relations with the West, which views South Ossetia and Abkhazia as part of Georgia. Russian stocks fell Tuesday, with traders anticipating an increase in international tension.
Local residents line up while waiting for the distribution of humanitarian aid in the city of Gori in central GeorgiaBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Resident of Gori, South Ossetia, received aid after their city was devastated by the fighting
France, which brokered the ceasefire agreement between Russia and Georgia, criticized the Kremlin's decision.
"We consider this a regrettable decision and I recall our attachment to the territorial integrity of Georgia," said a spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday reiterated her support for Georgia's territorial integrity just prior to the announcement from Moscow.
"It is our position that the recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia does not conform to international law," Merkel said while visiting the Estonian capital Tallinn, adding that Medvedev's move was "absolutely not acceptable."
Similarly, the European Union just minutes prior to Medvedev's announcement expressed its opposition to recognizing the independence of the two breakaway provinces.
Russia's NATO envoy, Dmitry Rogozin, compared the current situation to Europe in 1914 on the eve of World War I, "when, because of one terrorist, leading world powers clashed," he told the RBK Daily business newspaper. War broke out after Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in August 1914.
Accusations of genocide
In his statement issued Tuesday, Medvedev condemned Georgia's offensive to reclaim South Ossetia earlier this month.
Girls ride on a car while holding Russian, left, and South Ossetian separatists' flags in Tskhinvali, the capital of Georgia's separatist-controlled territory of South OssetiaBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: The West has largely opposed recognizing the provinces
"On the night of August 8th, Tbilisi had a choice: (Georgian President) Saakashvili opted for genocide," said the Russian president. "With this choice Saakashvili wiped out all hope of a peaceful coexistence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia under one government."
Russia and Georgia fought a brief but bloody war over South Ossetia with Russia's army moving deep into Georgia after repelling the Georgian offensive.
On Tuesday the Kremlin convened the security council at the president's Black Sea residence in Sochi to review a plea by Russia's parliament for recognition of the two Georgian breakaway regions. Russia's powerful Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was also in attendance.
The United States, a staunch ally of Georgia, rebuked Russia's parliament over the resolution Monday, saying it was "deeply concerned."
The European Union, which has been critical of Russia's military involvement in Georgia, has called for a special summit on Sept. 1 to discuss the crisis in the region.
DW staff (kjb)
dw
Comments