Moscow threatens imminent recognition of Tskhinvali and Sukhumi. Tbilisi doesn’t believe

Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, said on April 2 that the government would consider the Russian State Duma’s resolution on the recognition of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia with the connection to the situation in Kosovo.The statement made by Foreign Minister on the opening day of the NATO summit in Bucharest, where one of the main issues to discuss will be the issue of entry of Georgia and Ukraine to alliance.

 

Russia intends to respond pragmatically to NATO expansion, “not like little school boys who cry in the corner,” Sergei Lavrov said..

 

“This will not be unanswered. But we will respond in a pragmatic way, not like little school boys who were hurt and fled their classroom slamming the door to cry in the corner,” Sergei Lavrov said.

 

“Concerning South Ossetia and Abkhazia, if Georgia intends to gain NATO support in order to solve these two conflicts by means of force, it’s a dangerous game,” Lavrov told journalists.

 

“The population of South Ossetia and Abkhazia cannot think of joining NATO,” he said after meeting his colleagues from the post-Soviet Commonwealth of Independent States. “In such a complicated issue it’s a dangerous game to play with fire.”

 

He declared that Russia “has supported and will continue to support their countrymen.”

 

“We will further demand ceasing of illegal actions on creation of alternative structures in Abkhazia and South Ossetia,” – said the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

 

He recalled that Russia resumed trade, economic, financial ties with Abkhazia.

 

Lavrov announced that “specific proposals for recognition of the independence on Kosovo’s precedent are being prepared”.

 

“We have carefully examined the recent statement by the State Duma of Russia on the principles of policy towards Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transdnestria We expect that in the nearest future we will prepare, in cooperation with respective state structures, concrete considerations in response to the proposals outlined in the [State Duma’s resolution],” Lavrov said in an address to the State Duma.

 

Lavrov also commented the words of President Mikhail Saakashvili that Moscow had promised Tbilisi not to recognize the Sukhumi and Tskhinvali:

 

“Russia has not promised to Tbilisi not to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia,” Lavrov said.

 

Meanwhile, Georgia’s State minister for Reintegration Issues Temur Iakobashvili is skeptical at the statements of Russian FM Lavrov concerning relations between the two countries in the event of the Georgian rapprochement with NATO and the prospect of the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

 

“Today’s statement of Lavrov in Russian State Duma is linked to the Bucharest summit. This statement has been well planned and executed, but nothing is new has been said by Russian FM,” Iakobashvili told journalists on Wednesday.

 

“Moreover, we are not afraid of any threats or similar statements, as they do not change the political course of Georgia”, he noted.

Kavkaz Center