Unrecognized Republics Have Right to Self-Determination, Russian MFA Says

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian press described the RF MFA's statement as a "diplomatic sensation" and "recognition of separatist regimes." Russian Foreign Ministry's Spokesman Mikhail Kamynin announced that the unrecognized republics in the post soviet space have the right to self-determination. "We treat the principle of territorial integrity with respect. But as regards Georgia, this integrity is rather a possible condition than political and legal reality. The initial South Ossetian position bases on another principle recognized by the international community - the right to self-determination," he stated.



Kommesant daily thinks that with this statement Moscow reacted to the West's demands to withdraw Russian troops from Moldavia and Georgia. This means that the concept of Moscow's foreign policy towards the post soviet space has radically changed. In order to maintains its influence in the pro-western segments of the CIS Russia is ready to recognize the separatist regimes in Transdnistria, Abkhazia and South Ossetia," the newspaper writes.



"Separatists of all kinds have the right to independence," the Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes. It compared the situation in the Transcaucasus with the situation in Balkans and recollects the recent referendum in Montenegro and Kosovo's aspirations for independence. Kamynin's statement gained a due impression. The unrecognized republics hurried to welcome it. Georgia is preparing a tough answer and says Russia is likely to provoke "a parade of sovereignties" on its own territory. No doubt, the position of the Russian Foreign Ministry will be rated as equivocal by the United States and Europe," Nezavisimaya Gazeta says foretelling tension of relations with Georgia and reproaches from Washington addressed to Moscow over the "incorrect" policy pursued in the post soviet space.



"Kamynin's statement is the first case when Russia questioned Georgia's territorial integrity," head of the Russian Institute of National Studies Alexander Skakov said. This statement most likely shows that Russia considers the potential of further talks with Georgia exhausted, the expert supposes. In the opinion of observers, the diplomats attempted to "provoke Georgia", but one should not expect direct collision between Moscow and Tbilisi - this is not in interests of both states, reported the BBC Russian office.