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Georgia Accuses Russia of Annexation
Georgian Foreign Minister David Bakradze considers the measures taken by Russia to support Abkhazia and South Ossetia constitute an attempt at the annexation of the two Georgian regions. The minister told journalists in Tbilisi that, if Russia establishes special relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, it will be a violation of international law and Georgia's territorial integrity.
The Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement today stating that Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the government to develop measures to provide aid to the population of the breakaway regions. The European Union expressed its concern over the Russian decision to establish cooperation with the unrecognized republics. The press secretary for Javier Solana, EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, stated that the EU has always supported Georgia's territorial integrity and that Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili called him to express his concern over the unfolding situation. NATO General Secretary Jan de Hoop Scheffer called on Russia to reverse its decision to establish stronger ties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia and called on Georgia to show restraint.
The cooperation to provide aid to Russian citizens living in the conflict zones requires recognition of a number of documents issued by the “practical agencies of authority.” Russian Ambassador to Georgia Vyacheslav Kovalenko called on Georgian authorities not to dramatize the event. “Moscow's initiative has absolutely no confrontation between Russia and Georgia. Russian citizens live in those regions and, therefore, we are interested in what happens in them,” he said.
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