Medvedev Rules Out Reversing Abkhazia, S.Ossetia Recognition

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Moscow would not reverse its decision on the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, adding that bilateral cooperation agreements with the “new states” were being prepared.

“The new states have already emerged,” he said in an interview with three Russian TV networks – First Channel, Rossiya and NTV – on August 31. “The recognition process [by other states] may take a long time, but our position will not change depending on this [process]. We have already made our decision and it is irreversible. Our duty is to provide peace and calm in the region. Our policy will be based on that.”

He also said that Russia would provide comprehensive assistance to Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and that Moscow would undertake its responsibilities towards the two regions through bilateral agreements with them.

“Agreements, international agreements, are now being prepared; agreements between the two states – the Russian Federation and Abkhazia and the Russian Federation and South Ossetia,” he said.

These agreements, he said, would involve economic, humanitarian and military cooperation issues. “There will be fully fledged international relations between these allied states,” Medvedev said.