Countries of the world make comments on Russia's recognition of breakaway republics

The countries of the world start to express their attitude to recognition by Russia of the state sovereignty of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The toughest stand on the issue belongs to the White House. US State Secretary of USA Condoleezza Rice has promised that the USA will block any recognition of South Ossetia's and Abkhazia's independence by the UN Security Council should a respective resolution get for consideration to this entity, the RBC Agency reports.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is afraid that Russia's recognition of Abkhazia's and South Ossetia's independence can complicate the efforts of the UN's Security Council towards safe settlement of the situation, his spokesman Michelle Montas said on August 26.

President of Poland Lech Kacinski is resolutely protesting against Russia's recognition of South Ossetia's and Abkhazia's independence, as the secretariat of the head of Poland reports. In the opinion of Polish President, Moscow's decision is an attempt "to legalize the results of Russia's unprecedented aggression against the Georgian state," the RIA "Novosti" reports.

Norway expresses regret with Russia's recognition of Abkhazia's and South Ossetia's independence, reports the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The head of the Norwegian foreign policy agency believes that the decision is far from being a constructive contribution into any long-term and peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Hungary has also expressed regret on the occasion, runs a statement promulgated by this country's MFA on August 26, the "Interfax" Agency reports.

Greece has also condemned Russia's recognition of Abkhazia's and South Ossetia's independence, as stated on August 26 by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Dora Bakoyanni.

Latvia sticks to a similar position. Minister of Foreign Affairs of this country Maris Riekstinsh has condemned Russia's decision to recognize South Ossetia's and Abkhazia's independence, the MFA's press service announced on August 26.

Leaders of Ukraine consider Russia's actions on recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as annexation of parts of Georgia's territory and "support of puppet regimes." In their turn, Ukrainian oppositionists are calling to follow the lead of Russia and respect the will of residents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

We note here that the government of Japan, similar to the stand of some of European countries, has expressed regret with Russia's decision to recognize Abkhazia's and South Ossetia's independence.

It is worth noting also that the HAMAS Palestinian Movement, which controls the Gaza Sector, welcomes Russia's recognition of Abkhazia's and South Ossetia's independence, watching this step as a precedent giving hope to all suppressed nations.

Igor Smirnov, President of the breakaway Transdniestrian Moldavian Republic, has congratulated the peoples of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on recognition by Russian Federation of their independence.

Serbia, in its turn, is not in a hurry to recognize the national sovereignty of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Serbian MFA is monitoring with concern the development of the situation in the Caucasian region, runs the statement of the Ministry issued in Belgrade in connection with RF's recognition of independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia from Georgia.
"Officials of the Republic of Serbia were permanently warning that unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo and Metokhia, same as recognition of this illegal act, can acquire the character of precedent and destabilize other regions of the world. We can now ascertain regretfully that the forecasts have come true," runs the statement.

The "Caucasian Knot" has already reported that China, unlike western countries, did not hasten to react to Russia's recognition of Abkhazia's and South Ossetia's independence. All the days of the conflict, China restricted itself to appeals to both parties to exhibit restraint. Chinese diplomats plan to raise the issue of situation in Georgia at the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to be held in Dushanbe on August 28.