Russia to establish closer regional ties

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 04-17-2008 13:48

Russia has announced it will establish legal links with neighboring Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Mikhail Kamymin, Russian Deuty Foreign Minister. (CCTV.com)

Wednesday's announcement came two weeks after NATO angered Moscow by agreeing to allow Georgia to join the alliance.

In a statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry, President Vladimir Putin ordered his government to recognize businesses and organizations registered under Abkhaz and South Ossetian law.

The report says Moscow is also to cooperate with authorities in the two regions on trade and other issues and provide more aid to locals.

It says the move will help strengthen security and stability.

Mikhail Kamymin, Russian Deuty Foreign Minister, said, "Our actions with regards to Abkhazia and South Ossetia do not mean that Russia has chosen the course of confrontation with Georgia. We favor the withdrawal of all sanctions and restrictions that hinder the social and economic development of the region."

Georgia has accused Russia of trying to annex the regions since they broke from Tbilisi's control in the 1990s.

Georgia condemned Moscow's move after a meeting of its Security Council.

David Bakradze, Georgian Foreign Minister, said, "Of course that is against all norms of international law and the Georgian side will do whatever it can do in order to give diplomatic, political and legal response to this policy."

Russia's announcement may also stoke Western concerns that Russia is using the regions to retaliate for the recognition of Kosovo's independence, which the Kremlin fiercely opposed.

Putin's order made no mention of recognizing the two regions' claims for independence from Georgia.

But analysts believe Russia will likely do so if Georgia joins NATO.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei