Russia has never connected and does not connect the recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia with the issues of practical cooperation with Belarus, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a news conference on June 9, RIA Novosti reported.
"We have never beg anybody and will not beg to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia," Lavrov said at the request of a journalist to comment on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's statement that Russia allegedly connects issuing credit to Minsk with Belarus's recognizing the independence of the two republics.
"The fact that this issue (of recognition) will be examined in accordance with the Belarusian legislation has been sounded by the Belarusian leadership. We fully respect the constitutional procedures of the Republic of Belarus, we also will not link it with issues of practical cooperation between our nations," the minister said.
Russia not connects recognition of Abkhazia, S.Ossetia with practical interaction with Minsk: FM
