PanARMENIAN.Net
Unrecognized Republics Have Right to
Self-Determination, Russian MFA Says
02.06.2006 18:08 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russian press described the RF MFA’s statement as a
`diplomatic sensation’ and `recognition of separatist regimes.’
Russian Foreign Ministry’s Spokesman Mikhail Kamynin announced that
the unrecognized republics in the post soviet space have the right to
self-determination. `We treat the principle of territorial integrity
with respect. But as regards Georgia, this integrity is rather a
possible condition than political and legal reality. The initial
South Ossetian position bases on another principle recognized by the
international community – the right to self-determination,’ he stated.
Kommesant daily thinks that with this statement Moscow reacted to the
West’s demands to withdraw Russian troops from Moldavia and
Georgia. This means that the concept of Moscow’s foreign policy
towards the post soviet space has radically changed. In order to
maintains its influence in the pro-western segments of the CIS Russia
is ready to recognize the separatist regimes in Transdnistria,
Abkhazia and South Ossetia,’ the newspaper writes.
`Separatists of all kinds have the right to independence,’ the
Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes. It compared the situation in the
Transcaucasus with the situation in Balkans and recollects the recent
referendum in Montenegro and Kosovo’s aspirations for independence.
Kamynin’s statement gained a due impression. The unrecognized
republics hurried to welcome it. Georgia is preparing a tough answer
and says Russia is likely to provoke `a parade of sovereignties’ on
its own territory. No doubt, the position of the Russian Foreign
Ministry will be rated as equivocal by the United States and Europe,’
Nezavisimaya Gazeta says foretelling tension of relations with Georgia
and reproaches from Washington addressed to Moscow over the
`incorrect’ policy pursued in the post soviet space.
`Kamynin’s statement is the first case when Russia questioned
Georgia’s territorial integrity,’ head of the Russian Institute of
National Studies Alexander Skakov said. This statement most likely
shows that Russia considers the potential of further talks with
Georgia exhausted, the expert supposes. In the opinion of observers,
the diplomats attempted to `provoke Georgia’, but one should not
expect direct collision between Moscow and Tbilisi – this is not in
interests of both states, reported the BBC Russian office.