S. Ossetia, Abkhazia: Independence, for sake of stability

South Ossetia and Abkhazia will seek independence under international law, RIA Novosti reports. South Ossetia's Eduard Kokoity said Thursday at a news conference in Moscow that Georgia's attack on August 8 made it possible for the two separatist provinces to seek further international recognition. S. Ossetia, Abkhazia: Independence, for sake of stability "Despite the severe blow to our nation, South Ossetians' will and striving for independence remains unchanged," he said. "We will seek independence in strict compliance with international law." His pledge was echoed by Abkhazian President Sergei Bagapsh: "As to our independence, as to our progress toward this goal, no force will make us stop. The goal has been set, and we will advance toward this goal together." Bagapsh said both breakaway provinces ruled out the possibility of talks with Georgia on their status. "There was a little possibility of establishing dialogue before the aggression in South Ossetia, through mediators, through the [UN] secretary general, and politicians visited, [now] there will be no dialogues, no talks with Georgia," Bagapsh said. The Abkhazian leader added: "Georgia has hammered a huge rusty nail into its integrity." Kokoity agreed, saying the two Georgian rebel provinces had more grounds for recognition as independent states than Kosovo. Kosovo proclaimed unilateral sovereignty from Serbia on February 17, and has been recognized by Washington and most European countries. South Ossetia's leader also urged Europe to recognize the independence of his nation and Abkhazia as soon as possible "so that stability could be established in the Caucasus". Kokoity and Bagapsh signed a peace plan in Moscow at a meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev earlier Thursday. The French-brokered peace agreement, which requires an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of forces, was agreed by Russia and Georgia on Tuesday. Russia's foreign minister said earlier today the question of Georgia's territorial integrity was "a dead issue", the AP reported from Moscow. Sergei Lavrov made the statement on Thursday simultaneously with the announcement that Dmitry Medvedev was meeting in the Kremlin with the leaders of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the agency said. "One can forget about any talk about Georgia's territorial integrity," Lavrov was quoted as saying, and explaining that this is because he believes it's impossible to persuade South Ossetia and Abkhazia that they can be forced to be a part of Georgia. He also announced that Russia is looking into increasing its peacekeeper numbers in the two de facto independent regions. Diplomatic efforts are intensifying as the situation in Georgia calms and accusations are exchanged on breaches of the ceasefire. The U.S. continues to criticize Russia for, as it believes, using excessive force in Georgia. Nonetheless, while Russia and Georgia continue accusing each other of breaking the ceasefire, talks on application of the peace plan are already under way. EU ministers have also met to give their endorsement to the dispatch of a joint OSCE mission to the region. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that Russia would "face greater isolation" if it broke the ceasefire with Georgia. “If Russia really is breaking the ceasefire, and I must say that the reports on Russian observation of the ceasefire are not encouraging, that will just bring deeper isolation that Russia is heading towards,“ warned Rice, adding that Russia had gone too far in its reaction in Georgia. The secretary of state firmly believes in the mediation of France and the EU generally. “I’m going to France as we strongly support the mediation of the EU that France is chairing on this issue. I think the best thing is for France to play a key role in mediation, and we will support her in that. We’re also speaking with the Russians and holding talks at a number of levels,“ she said. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, meanwhile, in a telephone call to Nicolas Sarkozy, said that UN resolutions and declarations were not now the most important factor for the stability of the process of normalizing the situation in the region, rather the agreement to be signed by South Ossetia and Georgia on the basis of the “six principles“. Russian and Georgian Foreign Ministers Sergei Lavrov and Eka Tkeshelashvili have been discussing practical application of the peace plan that was reached through the mediation of the French president. The two also looked at humanitarian problems that have arisen since the Georgian invasion of South Ossetia. However, while contact exists between Russian and Georgian officials, Russian Vice-President Sergei Ivanov told the BBC that Moscow was refusing to speak with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, though it was willing to speak with the EU about the establishment of peacekeeping forces in the Georgian separatist regions. The 26 NATO foreign ministers will meet on Tuesday at an emergency session in Brussels devoted to the crisis. Medvedev, Bagapsh, Kokoity meet in Moscow today (Beta)

S. Ossetia, Abkhazia: Independence, for sake of stability

"Despite the severe blow to our nation, South Ossetians' will and striving for independence remains unchanged," he said.

"We will seek independence in strict compliance with international law."

His pledge was echoed by Abkhazian President Sergei Bagapsh: "As to our independence, as to our progress toward this goal, no force will make us stop. The goal has been set, and we will advance toward this goal together."

Bagapsh said both breakaway provinces ruled out the possibility of talks with Georgia on their status.

"There was a little possibility of establishing dialogue before the aggression in South Ossetia, through mediators, through the [UN] secretary general, and politicians visited, [now] there will be no dialogues, no talks with Georgia," Bagapsh said.

The Abkhazian leader added: "Georgia has hammered a huge rusty nail into its integrity."

Kokoity agreed, saying the two Georgian rebel provinces had more grounds for recognition as independent states than Kosovo.

Kosovo proclaimed unilateral sovereignty from Serbia on February 17, and has been recognized by Washington and most European countries.

South Ossetia's leader also urged Europe to recognize the independence of his nation and Abkhazia as soon as possible "so that stability could be established in the Caucasus".

Kokoity and Bagapsh signed a peace plan in Moscow at a meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev earlier Thursday. The French-brokered peace agreement, which requires an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of forces, was agreed by Russia and Georgia on Tuesday.

Russia's foreign minister said earlier today the question of Georgia's territorial integrity was "a dead issue", the AP reported from Moscow.

Sergei Lavrov made the statement on Thursday simultaneously with the announcement that Dmitry Medvedev was meeting in the Kremlin with the leaders of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the agency said.

"One can forget about any talk about Georgia's territorial integrity," Lavrov was quoted as saying, and explaining that this is because he believes it's impossible to persuade South Ossetia and Abkhazia that they can be forced to be a part of Georgia.

He also announced that Russia is looking into increasing its peacekeeper numbers in the two de facto independent regions.

Diplomatic efforts are intensifying as the situation in Georgia calms and accusations are exchanged on breaches of the ceasefire.

The U.S. continues to criticize Russia for, as it believes, using excessive force in Georgia.

Nonetheless, while Russia and Georgia continue accusing each other of breaking the ceasefire, talks on application of the peace plan are already under way. EU ministers have also met to give their endorsement to the dispatch of a joint OSCE mission to the region.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that Russia would "face greater isolation" if it broke the ceasefire with Georgia.

“If Russia really is breaking the ceasefire, and I must say that the reports on Russian observation of the ceasefire are not encouraging, that will just bring deeper isolation that Russia is heading towards,“ warned Rice, adding that Russia had gone too far in its reaction in Georgia.

The secretary of state firmly believes in the mediation of France and the EU generally.

“I’m going to France as we strongly support the mediation of the EU that France is chairing on this issue. I think the best thing is for France to play a key role in mediation, and we will support her in that. We’re also speaking with the Russians and holding talks at a number of levels,“ she said.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, meanwhile, in a telephone call to Nicolas Sarkozy, said that UN resolutions and declarations were not now the most important factor for the stability of the process of normalizing the situation in the region, rather the agreement to be signed by South Ossetia and Georgia on the basis of the “six principles“.

Russian and Georgian Foreign Ministers Sergei Lavrov and Eka Tkeshelashvili have been discussing practical application of the peace plan that was reached through the mediation of the French president.

The two also looked at humanitarian problems that have arisen since the Georgian invasion of South Ossetia.

However, while contact exists between Russian and Georgian officials, Russian Vice-President Sergei Ivanov told the BBC that Moscow was refusing to speak with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, though it was willing to speak with the EU about the establishment of peacekeeping forces in the Georgian separatist regions.

The 26 NATO foreign ministers will meet on Tuesday at an emergency session in Brussels devoted to the crisis.