Russia vows to stick to its recognition of Abkhazia, S.Ossetia
03/10/2008 15:15 MOSCOW, October 3 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will not backtrack on its recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent countries, the Russian ambassador to Georgia said Friday.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe urged Russia on Thursday to annul its August 26 recognition of the two Georgian breakaway regions.
"The recognition is an accomplished fact. The earlier Georgia and the international community understand that, the better," said Vyacheslav Kovalenko. The ambassador returned to Russia along with 22 embassy officials on Tuesday, a month after Tbilisi severed diplomatic ties with Moscow.
Kovalenko said negotiations were currently underway on which European country would represent Russia's interests in Georgia.
He said it was important not to sever all ties with Georgia.
"I think we will find a status that would give our diplomats immunity and enable them to perform their functions," the Russian ambassador said, adding that five diplomats and maintenance staff had stayed behind.
Speaking upon his arrival in Moscow on Tuesday, Kovalenko said it would be in the interests of Georgia "to be friends with everybody, using this friendship for the sake of its national interests."
Kovalenko described Georgia as an economically weak country with a poor population, and suggested Russia, Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia "try to establish a certain economic space."
So far, only Nicaragua has joined Russia in recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia as sovereign countries.
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