Georgia must recognize breakaway republics for NATO membership: Russian envoy
MOSCOW – Talks on Georgian NATO membership are impossible as long
as Georgia does not recognize the independence of South Ossetia and
Abkhazia, Russian ambassador to NATO was quoted by RIA Novosti as
saying on Monday.
"While the problems surrounding South Ossetia and Abkhazia remain unresolved (and they will not be resolved until Georgia recognizes the republics' independence) Georgia's road to NATO is closed," Dmitry Rogozin said.
"NATO cannot allow itself the luxury of accepting a state with uncertain borders."
Long-standing tensions between Russia and Georgia, the former Soviet republic, turned violent during a five-day war in August of 2008, when Tbilisi attacked South Ossetia in an attempt to take back the breakaway republic.
Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia shortly after the conflict with Georgia. The two breakaway Georgian republics are recognized by Nicaragua, Venezuela and the tiny island state of Nauru as well.
"While the problems surrounding South Ossetia and Abkhazia remain unresolved (and they will not be resolved until Georgia recognizes the republics' independence) Georgia's road to NATO is closed," Dmitry Rogozin said.
"NATO cannot allow itself the luxury of accepting a state with uncertain borders."
Long-standing tensions between Russia and Georgia, the former Soviet republic, turned violent during a five-day war in August of 2008, when Tbilisi attacked South Ossetia in an attempt to take back the breakaway republic.
Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia shortly after the conflict with Georgia. The two breakaway Georgian republics are recognized by Nicaragua, Venezuela and the tiny island state of Nauru as well.
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