South Ossetia expects Belarus to recognize its independence, leader says

By Tanya Korovenkova
BelaPAN
November 20, 2009

Minsk - South Ossetia expects Belarus to recognize its independence, Eduard Kokoity, leader of Georgia's breakaway region, told a visiting delegation of Belarusian lawmakers on November 19. The South Ossetia leader expressed gratitude to the Belarusian MPs for their visit, according to the region's press ministry.

"We are connected by a long friendly history. We have much in common in culture, traditions and faith. But we are well aware of the situation in which Belarus has found itself when all are waiting for your decision. But this is the internal affair of the people and leadership of the Republic of Belarus," he was quoted as saying. "You will determine yourself when this must be done," he said, referring to the possible recognition of the region by Minsk. "What matters most is to establish inter-parliamentary cooperation and cooperation at the level of the republics' leaderships.

There are different forms of recognition, but we, of course, will expect official recognition. This is very important to our people," Mr. Kokoity said.

Uladzimir Kuzhanaw, deputy chair of the international affairs committee in the Belarusian House of Representatives, said, for his part, that the delegation would inform the Belarusian leadership about the results of the visit. "Upon return we will prepare a comprehensive report and inform the leadership of what we saw here," he stressed. During the visit that began on November 17, the Belarusian lawmakers also stayed in Georgia and its other breakaway region, Abkhazia, meeting with local MPs and government officials. The delegation, which consists of members of both the lower and upper chambers, was expected to hold meetings with lawmakers, government officials and ordinary people "to study public opinion, steps by the authorities to secure normal life in the regions."

The trip is part of the Belarusian legislature's effort to consider the recognition of the independence of the breakaway regions. Earlier this month, the National Assembly formed a working group tasked with obtaining "additional information about the subject of the recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as coming up with recommendations for the consideration of the issue by the House of Representatives." The House of Representatives received a recognition appeal from the parliament of South Ossetia on December 1, 2008 and a similar appeal from the legislature of Abkhazia a little earlier, but the House has not yet considered the issue. Mr. Lukashenka said in September that the Belarusian parliament would consider recognizing the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia this fall. Apart from Russia, Nicaragua and Venezuela are the only countries to have recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which the rest of the world still views as part of Georgia.