http://en.rian.ru/world/20080826/116297829.html
Russian Information Agency Novosti August 26, 2008 Russia says Abkhazia, S. Ossetia situation different from Kosovo -"In both cases the center started a war in Kosovo and South Ossetia, as well as Abkhazia, but the conflicts were halted in different ways - through the ruthless inhuman bombardment of Belgrade in the case of Kosovo and without punishing Tbilisi for its attacks on Sukhumi [Abkhazia's capital]." -"Belgrade has never tried to use military force or cast doubt on negotiations since 1999, but they were destroyed by Kosovo Albanians supported by the West. And it was Tbilisi that undermined the settlement mechanisms in South Ossetia and Abkhazia." SOCHI - Russia's foreign minister said on Tuesday Moscow's decision to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states has no parallel with Kosovo's declaration of independence made earlier this year. Russia recognized Georgia's breakaway republics earlier Tuesday when President Dmitry Medvedev signed a resolution which was unanimously passed by both houses of parliament. The move will further worsen Russia's relations with Western powers, already strained over Moscow's "disproportionate" response to Georgia's attack on Tskhinvali. Both Abkhazia and South Ossetia have been seeking independence since the early 1990s, resulting in bloody conflicts with Georgia. Their hopes were given a new lease of life following Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia in February and subsequent recognition by most EU and western countries, including the United States. "In both cases the center started a war in Kosovo and South Ossetia, as well as Abkhazia, but the conflicts were halted in different ways - through the ruthless inhuman bombardment of Belgrade in the case of Kosovo and without punishing Tbilisi for its attacks on Sukhumi [Abkhazia's capital]," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. "A ceasefire was agreed, peacekeepers were deployed and mechanisms for talks established. Belgrade has never tried to use military force or cast doubt on negotiations since 1999, but they were destroyed by Kosovo Albanians supported by the West. And it was Tbilisi that undermined the settlement mechanisms in South Ossetia and Abkhazia," the minister said. "Therefore, drawing parallels is irrelevant here, and the difference is evident between Belgrade's policy towards Kosovo and how Saakashvili's regime behaved towards South Ossetia and Abkhazia," Lavrov said. Tbilisi launched a military offensive on South Ossetia on August 8 seeking to retake control of the region in which at least 64 Russian peacekeepers and hundreds of South Ossetian civilians died with thousands more forced to flee the conflict. Russia expelled Georgian forces sending tanks and troops to the region crossing into Georgian territory as part of Moscow military response. Although Moscow has now withdrawn most of its troops from Georgia, some manned checkpoints remain on key roads Russia says they are needed to deter further bloodshed and protect South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Lavrov also said Russia was unconcerned by the threat of possible sanctions being imposed by western countries following Moscow's decision. "Russia is a self-sufficient country, and attempts to block our ambitious plans, which are extremely important for the country's social and economic development, will bring no good, although someone is obviously keen to take advantage of a provocation like Georgia's attack," Lavrov said. ------------------------------------ =============== Group Moderator: [Е-ПОШТА ЗАШТИЋЕНА] page at http://magazine.sorabia.net for more informations about current situation in Serbia http://www.sorabia.net Slusajte GLAS SORABIJE nas talk internet-radio (Serbian Only) http://radio.sorabia.net Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sorabia/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sorabia/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[Е-ПОШТА ЗАШТИЋЕНА] mailto:[Е-ПОШТА ЗАШТИЋЕНА] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [Е-ПОШТА ЗАШТИЋЕНА] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
