Azerbaijan, Baku, 19 March / Trend corr. E.Huseynli / Eduard Shevarnadze, the Ex-Georgian President, considers that Russia does not recognize the independence of separate regimes in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. "When making a decree on the withdrawal from the agreement, which limits the armament delivery and any support to the separate regime in Abkhazia, Russia made a statement that it does not recognize the independence of these regions of Georgia," Shevarnadze said to Trend on 18 March.
The Committee of Russian Parliament on CIS Affairs has approved the project of recommendations for the Government to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Reuter reported. The hearings were held in the Parliament on recognition of separate regimes in Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Pridnestroviye. At early March, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated about unilateral withdraw from the agreement 1996 within the framework of CIS, which envisaged prohibition on implementation of trade and economic, financial, transport and other ties with Abkhazia on the State line. Experts consider that Russia undertakes such measures in respond to pro-west course of Tbilisi and has a will to join NATO soon.
The decision by Russia to withdraw from the agreement of 1996, which envisaged prohibition on armament supply and any other aid to separate regime, is a rough violation of UN Resolution which supported the territorial integrity of these Georgian Republics, Shevarnadze said.
Support of the independence of Kosovo by West and European countries, according to Shevarnadze, is a bad precedent for Russia. "There are Republics in Russia, which may claim for independence as well. These are Chechna, Daghestan, Tatarstan, Bashkortostan and others. Therefore, Russia is quite concerned about Kosovo issue," Ex-President said.
Shevarnadze hesitated to answer the question when asked to him about- if Russian's reaction would have any affect on the intensions of Tbilisi joining NATO and receiving the Plan of Actions on membership to MAR alliance during the April summit in Bucharest. "It is not an easy issue and taking into consideration that Russia is against this issue and is supported by Germany and France," Ex-President said.
By recognizing the independence of Kosovo, heads of South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Pridnestroviye, according to the supervisors, use Moscow's support, and stated that these Republics have more reasons to be recognized by the International community rather than the former Serbian province.
Alliance is to analyze the possible actions and reaction of Russia when making a decision on joining Georgia to NATO. "NATO will seek balance with Russia by accepting the decision on Georgia," NATO official representative from Brussels said. "We have certain procedures and we are to analyze the issue how the membership of Georgia in NATO may affect on its relation with Russia. And we have to reach any balance," he said.