Posted on 08/26/2008 5:28:52 PM PDT by SandRat
WASHINGTON, Aug. 26, 2008 – President Bush condemned what he called Russia’s “irresponsible decision” today to recognize the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states.
“Russia's action only exacerbates tensions and complicates diplomatic negotiations,” Bush, in Crawford, Texas, said in a statement.
The president’s response comes after a reported announcement by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that Moscow intends to formally recognize the two breakaway provinces in Georgia, where Russia continues to maintain troops in defiance of a cease-fire agreement and mounting international pressure to withdrawal.
“We expect Russia to live up to its international commitments, reconsider this irresponsible decision, and follow the approach set out in the six-point agreement,” Bush said, referring to a French-brokered peace deal signed two weeks ago by Medvedev and Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.
“In accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions that remain in force, Abkhazia and South Ossetia are within the internationally recognized borders of Georgia, and they must remain so,” the president said.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today called Moscow’s decision “regrettable,” saying it puts Russia in opposition to security resolutions negotiated by the United Nation’s Security Council, to which Russia is a member.
“It simply means that the Russian president continues not to honor the commitments that the Russians have signed onto,” Rice said at a news conference in Ramallah, Palestine.
Russia escalated a simmering conflict with neighboring Georgia on Aug. 8 when it invaded the former Soviet republic, followed by bombing of civilian infrastructure and clashes in Georgian villages.
yes. this and maybe an angry letter from EU will teach the russians. sarcasm
This situation is like a loose rail car slowly moving down hill and will only get worse as time goes by.
Russia's ability to cause havoc for us in Europe and especially in the Middle East has only started.
Are we witnessing a new “iron curtain” descending across the old Soviet provinces? And the old eastern Europe?
And Kosovo is within the internationally recognized borders of Serbia. So?
How about the U.S. and the rest of NATO living up to our international commitments, like abiding by the OSCE conventions, the agreement with Serbia that let our troops into Kosovo in the first place, that promised to respect the territorial integrity of Serbia, before we lecture the Russians on the same points of international law?
When we recognized Kosovo's independence, everyone with even half a brain knew the Russians were going to come back and hammer us with it. Some times I think Mr. Bush really is as dim-witted as his critics claim.
WTH?! I was SOOooo done with ‘W’ 5 years ago ...
But Kerry would have been better?!
(scoff!)
Sometimes stupidity arises from a herd mentality. Whether W is as stupid as his critics suggest or not, he, Condi and the crowd at Foggy Bottom acting in concert certainly are.
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