Russia Today, August 27, 2008, 0:54

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has signed decrees, formally recognising the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. He says the military conflict in South Ossetia has killed every hope for the peaceful co-existence of Ossetians, Abkhazians and Georgians within one country.
Russia says the main goal of the recognition is to provide security for its own citizens in the region, and the people of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

“Based on the current situation it was necessary to make a decision. We respect the free will of the South Ossetian and Abkhazian people. And basing our actions on the regulations of the UN and the agreement of 1970 regulating relations between the countries, the Helsinki act of 1975 and other international regulations and documents I’ve signed an order to recognise the independence of South Ossetia and the independence of Abkhazia by the Russian federation,” Medvedev said.

Russia’s message is that it has tolerated enough – watching mutual agreements violated and numerous provocations attempted by the Georgian leadership. With its offensive on South Ossetia, Georgia put an end to peace talks and work by all sides for almost 20 years

"Given that Mikhail Saakashvili, having put his signature on a modified signature on the Moscow principles, continues to ignore them we’re convinced that recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia is the only feasible step for the survival or security of these nations," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

South Ossetia and Abkhazia have been defacto independent from Georgia since the early 1990s.

When Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence, both breakaway regions thought they had a precedent to defend their cause. But they lacked one crucial factor – the support of the U.S. and the EU.

"In both cases the centres started the war. In both cases peacekeeping forces were deployed. In both cases negotiating mechanisms were created. Since then, Belgrade has never questioned these mechanisms or tried to destabilise the region by using force. The international negotiating mechanisms were abolished by the action of Kosovo Albanians and their western supporters," Lavrov said.

As the Georgian military launched an attack against South Ossetia, the U.S. threw its full support behind Georgia and accused Russia of a disproportionate response.

NATO is now sending its vessels to the Black Sea to provide humanitarian aid.

The U.S. and some NATO members are ready for an anti-Russian coalition. Possible sanctions include a suspension of the NATO-Russia Council, a roadblock to Russia’s  WTO membership and a boycott of Sochi’s winter Olympics in 2014.

In 1980 the U.S. boycotted the summer Olympics in Moscow.

It was their response after the Soviet Union entered Afghanistan to fight the Taliban - the same Taliban that NATO has been fighting since 2001. 

South Ossetian president: we deserve our independence

Russia Today, August 26, 2008, 21:16

The president of South Ossetia has hailed Russia’s decision to recognise its independence and says the territory deserves it. In an exclusive interview with RT, Eduard Kokoity described the day as an historic event and hopes the international community will follow Russia’s lead.
Kokoity said his compatriots have been working on the international recognition of South Ossetia for long 14 years.

In spite of massive support from the EU and the US, he said Georgia had found no argument in its dispute with its breakaway republic other than aggression and another wave of genocide against Ossetians. 

He added that his people were always in favour of a peaceful and civilised way of settling the conflict, but, except for Russia, he believes there is no other guarantor of peace and stability in the North Caucasus.

He described the day as a great holiday and an historical event for himself and his fellow countrymen.

To read the transcript of his interview follow the link.

Mr Kokoity hopes that all major forces of the world will choose the same approach and recognise South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states. He claimed it was only a matter of time, as everything was made within the framework of international law. He described the day as one of victory over politicians with double standards.

Kokoity said the example of Kosovo independence, and the support it received on the part of the EU and the US, played a key role in the final recognition of the two Georgian breakaway republics, and restoring historical justice.

The South Ossetian president insists that, in spite of statements by Georgian officials, those Georgian nationals who live in his country are fully fledged citizens of South Ossetia.

He said South Ossetia deserved independence and knows how to protect it.

Kokoity now plans to get back home as soon as possible to be with his people, and celebrate the holiday in the republic’s capital of Tskhinvali.

He says that he is aware that many countries will refuse to recognise South Ossetia, but believes many will be pursuing their own geopolitical interests. That is why he said South Ossetia is going to fully observe international law and international formats that exist.
In any case, he added, South Ossetia is a part of Europe, and is going to do everything to comply with those requirements applied by the EU - except for those of the policy of double standards.

How Russian decision will affect world’s unrecognized states

Russia Today, August 26, 2008, 20:26

With 192 member states, the global world order is firmly wedded to the United Nations. So before any aspiring state can be formally recognised, it has to meet the approval of the UN General Assembly. And there are a couple of key hurdles to overcome.

It needs the consent of the Security Council, comprised of 15 countries and most importantly, the five permanent members of the Council. Today, there are a number of regions which are not recognised at all or only partially so.

Kosovo

Kosovo is the most recent example, having been recognised by more than 40 states, including the US, Canada and most of the European Union.

When Kosovo unilaterally declared independence this year, the veto exercised by permanent members Russia and China showed how the obstacles for full international recognition can be insurmountable.

To learn more about Kosovo follow the link.

The Republic of Somaliland

Somaliland

The Republic of Somaliland, located in north east Africa, has not been recognised by any state since it declared independence from Somalia in 1991.

Despite its fragile status, Somaliland is in a territorial dispute with Somalia, claiming the entire area of the former British Somaliland protectorate. Meanwhile, the north eastern region of Maakhir has in turn declared a separate, unrecognised autonomous state within Somalia.

Yet another separatist movement in the western Awdal province makes the international recognition for either of them virtually unachievable. If any of the breakaway regions is officially recognised, the whole of Somalia will collapse like a house of cards.

Ex-Soviet republics: Transdniester

Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Transdniester

Four more regions, all parts of former Soviet republics, unilaterally proclaimed independence in the early 1990s. They are Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Transdniester. They acknowledge each other's status but this is not shared by the rest of the world.

Transdniester is located in a strip between the Dniester River and Ukraine.

After the dissolution of the USSR, Transdniester declared independence, leading to a four-month long conflict with Moldova. Although the ceasefire has held, the territory's political status remains unresolved, and Transdniester has been de facto independent since then.

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, also known as the Artsakh Republic, is de facto independent, located about 270 km west of the Azerbaijani capital Baku, close to the border with Armenia.

The predominantly Armenian-populated region was long disputed between Armenia and Azerbaijan. However, while the Soviet Union had control over the area, the situation was relatively calm.

Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic

In the final years of the Soviet Union, the region re-emerged as a source of dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan, culminating in conflict fought from 1988 to 1994.

On December 10, 1991, as the Soviet Union was collapsing, a referendum held in Nagorno-Karabakh and the neighboring Shahumian region resulted in a declaration of independence from Azerbaijan. Since the ceasefire in 1994, most of Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as a number of regions of Azerbaijan in close proximity, remain under joint Armenian and Nagorno-Karabakh military control.

Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic

There is another group of countries which have been accepted as sovereign states by UN member-countries, but not by the UN itself. They therefore cannot be considered fully independent states.

Taiwan

The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, situated in the former Spanish colony of Western Sahara, proclaimed independence almost 40 years ago from Morocco. Since then it has remained a partially recognised state. It claims sovereignty over the entire territory of Western Sahara, parts of which are controlled by Morocco and Mauritania.

Taipei, Taiwan

Taiwan – formed after the Chinese Civil War – has essentially been independent for half a century. But China still regards it as a rebel region which must be reunited. It only has diplomatic relations with around two dozen countries and lost its UN seat in 1971.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Northern Cyprus

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus declared independence in 1983, nine years after a Greek Cypriot coup - which was attempting to annex the island to Greece - triggered an invasion by Turkey. Northern Cyprus has only been recognised by Turkey, on which it is fully dependent.

Palestinian Authority

Israel, whose own status is itself disputed by some of its neighbours, has a breakaway region of its own: The Palestinian National Authority.

The Palestinian National Authority

It was formed in 1994, created to administer a limited form of self-government in the Palestinian territories for a period of five years, during which final-status negotiations would take place. The interim period expired in 1999, leaving the parties without any kind of solution. The situation has been a political stalemate since.

However on Wednesday U.S. Secretary Condoleezza Rice stated that President Bush is ‘tireless advocate’ for establishment of Palestinian state.