BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

17/03/2010

Putin says Minsk laggard in recognizing Abkhazia, S. Ossetia

Russia expected Belarus to show more support in the recognition of Georgia's two breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, said Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin Tuesday.

"Russia expected Belarus to support us in this issue quickly, energetically, and spectacularly. Indeed, this is not happening," Putin told reporters at a press conference held in Brest, Belarus.

However, whether to recognize these two regions or not was Minsk's sovereign right, he added.

Russia and Georgia fought a five-day war when Georgia tried to retake South Ossetia, which broke away with Abkhazia from its rule during a war in the 1990s that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union.

In response, Moscow sent in troops to drive Georgian forces out of the region and recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states two weeks after the conflict ended.

Belarus has been mulling over the recognition of these two regions for some time. So far, only Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru have followed Russia's suit.

Putin, who came to Belarus for a session of the Council of Ministers of the Russian-Belarusian Union State, also said that Russia has continued to support Belarusian economy via offering cheap energy.

He said the internal customs duties between Russia and Belarus will be fully lifted starting on Jan. 1, 2012, when the two countries together with Kazakhstan shall establish a unified economic space.

Source:

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90853/6921773.html


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