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International organizations condemn Russiaâ€™s decision to recognize independence of separatist regions

27 August 2008 10:01 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Lachin Sultanova â€“ APA. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Terry Davis, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe Carl Bildt, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) LluÃs Maria de Puig condemned Russiaâ€™s decision to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, APA reports. Ban Ki-Moon said the recent developments may have wider implications for security and stability in the Caucasus.

â€œThe unilateral recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by the Russian Federation violates the territorial integrity of a fellow Council of Europe member state. It jeopardizes prospects for a negotiated settlement of the dispute about the future status of these two regions,â€ said Secretary General of the Council of Europe Terry Davis.
â€œThe ultimate victim of this decision is the international credibility of the Russian Federation. The Russians cannot invoke international law only when they feel like it.â€

Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe Carl Bildt said Russia’s decision to recognize the rebel Georgian provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states was a "deliberate violation of international lawâ€.
â€œThe decision contradicts the principles of the Council of Europe, Russiaâ€™s obligations before the organization and the country officialsâ€™ statements that they respect Georgiaâ€™s territorial integrity and sovereignty,â€ he said.

â€œWhen it became a member of the Council of Europe, Russia promised to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbours. With this announcement, that promise is in tatters,â€ PACE President LluÃs Maria de Puig said.
â€œThis action, far from saving lives, only inflames the situation further and creates additional obstacles to resolving this conflict peacefully,â€ he said.