Russia urges OSCE to recognize independence of Abkhazia, S Ossetia

ITAR-TASS
February 25, 2010

VIENNA - Russia calls upon its partners in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as sovereign, independent states, given the new political and legal reality in the Caucasus, Russia's permanent envoy at the OSCE Anvar Azimov stated on Thursday.

"We again call upon our partners to revise the positions of their countries and arrive at a difficult but the only correct decision by recognizing the new political-legal reality in southern Caucasus, namely the existence of the three neighboring, sovereign and independent states: Abkhazia, Georgia and South Ossetia," Azimov noted in his speech at a session of the OSCE permanent council, the top body that brings together representatives of all the 56 member-states of this organization.

The Russian envoy said the decision to recognize the sovereignty and independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, made in accordance with the decree by the Russian president dated August 26, 2008, "is irrevocable and irreversible."

"Russia will continue to steadily strengthen the varied cooperation with these republics," he added.

In this connection, Azimov informed his OSCE partners about the Russian-Abkhazian top-level meeting in Moscow on February 17-18, which "showed the firm intention of both states to develop comprehensive ties for the good of the peoples of the two countries, and in the interests of peace and stability in the Caucasus."

The parties signed a package of bilateral accords on cooperation in transport and communications as, as well as on military cooperation, the envoy said.