Posted on 08/25/2008 11:00:40 PM PDT by Schnucki
US President George W Bush has urged Russia not to recognise Georgia's two breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states.
Mr Bush's comments came after Russia's parliament passed a non-binding motion calling on President Dmitry Medvedev to support the enclaves' independence bid.
The US has said such recognition would be contrary to international law and has pledged to stand by Georgia.
Russia and Georgia fought a brief war this month over the two provinces.
Moscow launched a counter-attack after Tbilisi tried to retake South Ossetia from rebels by military force.
The US and a number of Western governments have backed Georgia, sending aid and issuing strongly-worded statements.
In a statement, Mr Bush called on Russia's leadership to "meet its commitments and not recognise these separatist regions".
"The United States will continue to stand with the people of Georgia and their democracy and to support its sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said.
The US state department has said recognition of the two provinces' independence would be "a violation of Georgian territorial integrity" and "inconsistent with international law".
Leaders from Germany, the UK and Italy also expressed concern that the vote would raise tensions further in the Caucasus.
Meanwhile Alexander Stubb, the head of the European security organisation, the OSCE, has accused Russia of trying to empty South Ossetia of Georgians.
He told the BBC that OSCE military observers were trying to visit as much of South Ossetia as possible to clarify the situation.
"They are clearly trying to empty southern Ossetia from Georgians, which I don't think goes by any of the books that we deal with in international relations," he said.
Both South Ossetia and Abkhazia have effectively been independent since breaking away in the early 1990s.
While they have enjoyed Russian economic and diplomatic support, and
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Yes, the Kosovo and Montenegro chickens are coming home to roost.
We may not like it but you can hardly blame the Russians for getting even.
There’s a familiar chill in the air...
Bump.
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