(dpa) -
The European Union on Friday expressed concern over Moscow's decision to
establish ties with the two breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
In a statement on behalf of the 27 EU members states current EU president Slovenia reiterated "its firm commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders as reaffirmed in the (UN Security
Council) resolution 1808 of April 15, 2008."
Calling on Russia not to implement its decision on Wednesday to establish legal
ties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the statement added that "the
decision of the Russian Federation jeopardizes the implementation of these
principles."
"The EU urges all parties involved to refrain from any actions that could
lead towards the escalation of the situation in the region," the statement
continued.
On Thursday, Georgia's Foreign Ministry accused Russia of plotting to annex its
separatist regions, calling the Russian move "one more dangerous step
aimed at the de facto annexation of an integral part of Georgia's territory."
Georgia, a former Soviet republic, appealed to the "whole international
community" to do everything in their power to stop Russia's "violation of Georgia's internationally recognized territorial integrity."
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday telephoned her Russian
counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, to raise concerns about the Russian decision.
"We are very concerned at the steps that have been taken and we have made
our views known to the Russian government," Rice told journalists.
"The United States is absolutely committed to the territorial integrity of
Georgia," she added.
Russia officially endorses Georgia's territorial integrity, but has warned
that the independence of Kosovo from Serbia in February could serve as a
precedent. Russia last month lifted trade restrictions against both Georgia regions.
Russia has maintained peacekeeping troops in the regions since 1993 and the
separatists have looked to Moscow for support.