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Russia changes stand, to back S. Ossetia & Abkhazia in independence bid

— Photo: AP

Solidarity: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (left) welcomes Abkhazia’s President Sergei Bagapsh and leader of South Ossetia’s government Eduard Kokoity (right), in Moscow on Thursday.

MOSCOW: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev assured South Ossetia and Abkhazia of Russia’s support in their bid for independence as ceasefire held in Georgia and the focus shifted to a post-war settlement.

“Russia’s position is unchanged. We will support any decisions taken by the peoples of South Ossetia and Abkhazia,” said Mr. Medvedev at a Kremlin meeting with the leaders of the two self-proclaimed republics. “We will not only support but will guarantee [your decisions] both in the Caucasus and throughout the world.”

Mr. Medvedev in fact declared Moscow’s readiness to brush aside the West’s objections to the two regions’ split from Georgia in much the same way as the West ignored Russian protests against Kosovo’s independence.

Mr. Medvedev’s statement signals a major shift in Moscow’s stand.

Before Georgia launched full-scale offensive against South Ossetia last Thursday Russia regarded the two regions as being legally part of Georgia, even as Moscow maintained close economic and political ties with both territories. After Georgia’s attack Moscow said Georgia had “dealt a fatal blow to its territorial integrity.”

Mr. Medvedev met the leaders of South Ossetia and Abkhazia to get their signatures under a six-point plan brokered this week by France. The plan calls for an end to hostilities, the withdrawal of Georgian and Russian troops, renunciation of the use of force, and free access to humanitarian aid in the conflict zone.

A Russian military spokesman said on Thursday that Russian forces had not yet started withdrawing from South Ossetia and that some will remain in the region to ensure its security against another attack from Georgia.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili was yet to put his signature to the plan, which he publicly supported at a meeting on Sunday with French President Nicola Sarkozy.

Mr. Lavrov described Mr. Saakashvili as a “U.S. virtual project,” adding that Washington was still clinging to its pet project even though it has fallen through.

Mr. Lavrov revealed that Mr. Saakashvili held talks with French President on the terms of peace in the presence of three American advisers.

“You can imagine how shocked Mr. Sarkozy was,” said the Russian Minister. Moscow earlier said it was refusing to talk to Georgian leader after what he had done to South Ossetia.

U.S. President George W. Bush threatened to withdraw U.S. support for Russian aspirations to “integrate into the diplomatic, political, economic and security structures of the 21st century.”

However, Moscow warned it could retaliate by halting its cooperation with U.S. on key international issues. Mr. Lavrov said Washington had to choose between its continued support for Mr. Saakashvili and partnership with Russia.

The Pentagon has started flying humanitarian aid to Georgia with the first transports landing in Tbilisi on Wednesday and on Thursday. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will travel to Georgia on Friday in a show of solidarity with Mr. Saakashvili.

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