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OSCE warns Russia against jeopardizing Georgia sovereignty
Atlanta News.Net
Thursday 3rd July, 2008 (IANS)
Astana (Kazakhstan), July 3 (RIA Novosti) The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which serves as a forum for political dialogue in Europe, Thursday called on Russia to avoid steps that would compromise Georgia's sovereignty over its breakaway provinces.
The 56-member OSCE, which is currently holding its annual parliament assembly session in the Kazakh capital also adopted a resolution warning Russia against jeopardizing the sovereignty of its neighbour.
The resolution on Russia, adopted by 61-15 votes with 29 abstentions, follows Georgian claims that Russia has assumed de facto control over the province of Abkhazia, the focus of a long-running row between Moscow and Tbilisi.
Earlier this week Abkhazia closed its border with the rest of Georgia, following a series of explosions that it blamed on Georgian security forces.
In March this year, Russian lawmakers recommended that 'missions' be opened in the two territories, sparking a furious response from Georgia, which accuses the Kremlin of trying to annex Abkhazia, along with South Ossetia, another breakaway province.
Relations between Russia and Georgia have been strained since Russia stepped up support for the breakaway Georgian republics in April.
The pro-Western government of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has said it is determined to bring the breakaway regions back under its control, while Moscow says Tbilisi's policies could lead to bloodshed.
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