Posted on 11/10/2006 8:43:59 AM PST by kronos77
The outcome of conflicts between Georgia and its breakaway regions will depend on how the West handles Kosovo's claims for independence, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said in an interview published Thursday.
Russia says if talks on Kosovo's final status were to give the province independence from Serbia, that would be a powerful precedent for South Ossetia and Abkhazia -- Moscow-backed separatist regions that are de facto independent from Tbilisi.
A referendum on independence will be held Sunday in South Ossetia.
Asked in an interview with Izvestia about the Georgian regions, Ivanov said: "It is hard to say how events will develop. But much will depend on how the West behaves on the question of recognizing Kosovo."
The United States and the European Union want to settle Kosovo's final status. They are looking at proposals that would put Kosovo on the path to eventual statehood, if possible with Belgrade's agreement. Russia opposes independence.
A Serbian province with a majority ethnic-Albanian population, Kosovo has been a United Nations protectorate for the past seven years.
Russia helps prop up South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and many of the residents hold Russian passports. Georgia accuses Moscow of effectively annexing the regions.
On Wednesday, the United States rejected South Ossetia's referendum on independence, the U.S. State Department said.
"These actions will only serve to exacerbate tensions and divert attention from the need to peacefully resolve the conflict," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement.
Georgian forces and Russian-backed separatists in the rebel province are in a tense armed confrontation over the region.
ping
Clinton is like herpes - a gift that keeps on giving.
Kosovo is part of Serbia.
Aside from that, those Russians are swine. Never, never, never trust the Russians! What they are saying is that is Serbia loses Kosovo, they will take it out on peoples who have nothing to do with the matter. It is all typical Russian bullying, and even when they act friendly, they are probably just drunk, and will forget it when they sober up.
Putin stinks.
Russia has always used Serbia as a bargaining chip against the West. It's obvious that they're using her again for their own ends. They couldn't care less about Serbia's territorial integrity.
No kidding. It should be clear from these statements that Russia is perfectly willing to sell out their Serb "brothers" and recognize Kosovo's independence in order to establish an "international" precedent for the "independence" of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Well, perhaps. But the West seems to care even less about it. At least, Russia does not push towards the secession of Kosovo, like the West does, and there is still a chance that Russia will veto it in the security council.
Everything's possible. Russia has certainly been more of a friend than the West (if there is such a thing as a "friend" in international relations).
Ya know..you may be right...how is that any different from any other country looking out for it's own interests? I like that Russia putting a cog in the wheel of the "let's steal Kosovo from Serbia" scenario...I like it a lot. What's good for the goose is good for the gander---especially in politics.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.