During a sitting of lower house of Russia's parliament, the State Duma
Photo: Dmitry Dukhanin
| Other Photos |
 |
|
 |
State Duma Ratified Friendship Treaties with S. Ossetia, Abkhazia
The lower house of Russia’s parliament, the State Duma, has ratified two identical Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance Treaties between Russia and South Ossetia and between Russia and Abkhazia.
The treaties were inked in Moscow September 17, 2008. They legalize the deployment of Russia’s military in Abkhazia and South Ossetia to secure peace and stability in the region.
Both documents spell out the parties obligations for rendering assistance should any of them be attacked by any state. The treaties also provide for joint surveillance of state borders of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Certain provisions of the treaties relate to the wide spectrum of economic, social and humanitarian cooperation. The parties undertake to cooperate when opposing organized criminal actions, actions of international terrorism, drug trafficking.
The treaties will last for ten years. They will be automatically prolonged for the following periods of five years should no party voice the intent to terminate them.
Both treaties were elaborated expediently, RF Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said, pointing out that both of them name Russia’s ruble as the settlement currency in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The documents also spell out the right for dual citizenship.
www.kommersant.com
|
|
|
