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Russia warns Georgia over NATO

MOSCOW: Russia warned Georgia and the West that it would recognise the independence of Georgia’s two breakaway provinces if the former Soviet state joins NATO.

In a non-binding resolution unanimously approved on Friday the State Duma (lower House) urged the government “to consider the expediency” of recognising the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia if Georgia joins NATO or attacks the two separatist regions.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia unilaterally declared their independence in the early 1990s following their bitter armed conflict with Georgia.

In the wake of Kosovo’s independence, which Russia had fiercely opposed, Moscow earlier this month lifted trade and economic sanctions against Abkhazia.

The Russian MPs called for “boosting efforts to ensure security for Russian citizens” in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and beefing up Russian peace-keeping forces deployed in both provinces. Russian passport holders account for 80 to 90 per cent of residents in the two regions. The motion also asked the government to consider opening diplomatic “missions” there.

The Russian Parliament drew a red line against Georgia’s membership ahead of a NATO annual summit in Bucharest early next month, where Georgia and Ukraine hope to win “membership action plan” for joining NATO at an early date. U.S. President Bush has assured both ex-Soviet states of Washington’s support for their membership in the Atlantic Alliance, but Germany urged caution.

The State Duma made it clear its motion was a reaction to Kosovo’s unilateral independence, which was declared “in violation of international law”.

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