Russian Ambassador to UN Comments on Peacekeepers

Andrei Denisov, Russia’s Ambassador to the UN, said at a news conference on February 9 that the decision on the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from the South Ossetian conflict zone will create “serious problems for all the parties involved, including Russia,” as a majority of the residents in both Abkhazia and South Ossetia are Russian citizens, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

He also said that the decision about the withdrawal of the peacekeeping troops is only up to the Georgian President, who has not yet voiced his position.

At the news conference Ambassador Denisov said that Russia “respects the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia”.

The Russian diplomat also reiterated that Russia will adhere to a “universality principle” while dealing with the conflict in Kosovo.

“Our partners in the Contact Group for Kosovo [involving the United States, Russia, Britain, France, Germany and Italy] claim that the situation with the status of Kosovo should not create a precedent,” Denisov said.

However, he continued, it would be impossible “to explain to residents of other regions with a similar situation that there is no coincidence with Kosovo.”