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BREAKAWAY REPUBLICS LOOK TO ADVANCE STATEHOOD AT SUMMIT
EurasiaNet, NY
Oct 30 2007
Representatives of the self-proclaimed republics of Abkhazia,
Transdniester, and South Ossetia assembled in the Abkhaz capital
today for a four-day summit intended to advance the recognition of
their statehood.
The summit opened with a conference at Abkhaz State University in
Sukhumi addressing the international practices that would govern
such recognition.
The summit will reportedly culminate with meetings on November 4-5
among the region's de facto presidents: Sergei Bagapsh of Abkhazia and
Eduard Kokoity of South Ossetia, both breakaway republics of Georgia;
and Igor Smirnov of Transdniester, in Moldova.
The foreign ministers of the three governments are also scheduled to
meet. Apsnipress quoted Sergei Shamba, de facto foreign minister of
Abkhazia, as saying the ministers will discuss "a number of issues"
that have gained importance as the UN's December deadline for a
settlement of Kosovo's future status approaches.
A Possible Precedent
The efforts of Serbia's breakaway province of Kosovo to gain
independence are being watched closely by the leadership of the
self-proclaimed republics.
Russia, which backs Serbia in firmly opposing independence for
the province, has said that an independent Kosovo would create a
"dangerous precedent" for resolving the status of the so-called
"frozen conflicts" -- a term that groups the republics meeting this
week along with Kosovo, and Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Russian
President Vladimir Putin has called for what he described as "universal
principles" to govern future negotiations on the status of separatist
regions, suggesting that if the international community is prepared to
recognize Kosovo, it should make similar concessions to help resolve
the other frozen conflicts (see sidebar).
Moscow backs all three of the separatist republics meeting in Sukhumi
in their bids for international recognition.
The Sukhumi summit is being held within the framework of the
Commonwealth for Democracy and Rights of Nations -- a body founded by
Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transdniester in June 2006 with the aim
of gaining international recognition for their self-declared statehood.
On November 5, a second event involving Abkhazia, South Ossetia,
Transdniester, and Nagorno-Karabakh will open in Berlin. The two-day
parliamentary hearing will be held by the Committee on the Honoring of
Obligations and Commitments, made up of member states of the Council
of Europe.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
EurasiaNet, NY
Oct 30 2007
Representatives of the self-proclaimed republics of Abkhazia,
Transdniester, and South Ossetia assembled in the Abkhaz capital
today for a four-day summit intended to advance the recognition of
their statehood.
The summit opened with a conference at Abkhaz State University in
Sukhumi addressing the international practices that would govern
such recognition.
The summit will reportedly culminate with meetings on November 4-5
among the region's de facto presidents: Sergei Bagapsh of Abkhazia and
Eduard Kokoity of South Ossetia, both breakaway republics of Georgia;
and Igor Smirnov of Transdniester, in Moldova.
The foreign ministers of the three governments are also scheduled to
meet. Apsnipress quoted Sergei Shamba, de facto foreign minister of
Abkhazia, as saying the ministers will discuss "a number of issues"
that have gained importance as the UN's December deadline for a
settlement of Kosovo's future status approaches.
A Possible Precedent
The efforts of Serbia's breakaway province of Kosovo to gain
independence are being watched closely by the leadership of the
self-proclaimed republics.
Russia, which backs Serbia in firmly opposing independence for
the province, has said that an independent Kosovo would create a
"dangerous precedent" for resolving the status of the so-called
"frozen conflicts" -- a term that groups the republics meeting this
week along with Kosovo, and Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Russian
President Vladimir Putin has called for what he described as "universal
principles" to govern future negotiations on the status of separatist
regions, suggesting that if the international community is prepared to
recognize Kosovo, it should make similar concessions to help resolve
the other frozen conflicts (see sidebar).
Moscow backs all three of the separatist republics meeting in Sukhumi
in their bids for international recognition.
The Sukhumi summit is being held within the framework of the
Commonwealth for Democracy and Rights of Nations -- a body founded by
Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transdniester in June 2006 with the aim
of gaining international recognition for their self-declared statehood.
On November 5, a second event involving Abkhazia, South Ossetia,
Transdniester, and Nagorno-Karabakh will open in Berlin. The two-day
parliamentary hearing will be held by the Committee on the Honoring of
Obligations and Commitments, made up of member states of the Council
of Europe.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress