Moscow/Agency Caucasus – The Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, or USRB, which has emerged as a is a supranational entity, takes steps to further improve its collaboration with Sukhum and Tskhinval.
The Union State of Russia and Belarus has accorded parliaments of both Abkhazia and South Ossetia status as permanent observers at its parliamentary assembly.
Discussions as to whether the two republics could gain accession to the Union started to take place shortly after Russia recognized them. A formal meeting was held on Thursday in Moscow to set the new format for improved relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia altogether.
"Abkhazia and South Ossetia should be incorporated into the USRB," said Pavel Borodin, Secretary-General of the organization. "This could possibly be done by the end of the month."
If Belarus recognizes South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the parliaments of both republics will gain status as permanent members of the USRB, said Yuri Dzistzoyti, Deputy Speaker of the South Ossetian Parliament.
The fact that Belarus has not recognized the two Caucasian states yet although it forms the other half of its union with the Russian Federation provided evidence for care shown by Russia not to ‘implore’ anyone to recognize them, the Interfax news agency quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin as saying.
Karasin gave the reason for his country’s recognition of the two regions as independent states in the following words of his own: "We have done this [recognized the independence of the two regions] primarily because our recognition is the supreme guarantee of the stability and security of those states. And we will consistently pursue our line."
KU/ÖZ/FT
