Russian Federation

Russia Ratifies Treaties with Georgian Rebel Regions

The lower house of Russia’s parliament, the State Duma, voted unanimously to endorse the friendship treaties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia which were signed in the Kremlin last month. Russia recognized both provinces as independent states following its war with Georgia in August. The treaties allow for the deployment of 3,800 Russian troops in each of the two provinces. These treaties will help to establish military, economic, and diplomatic ties between Russia and the two regions. The Russian Foreign Ministry believes that these treaties were not only necessary for diplomatic reasons, but to create a legal basis for the deployment of Russian troops in the two territories. Although Russia argues that it fully met its commitments under a peace brokered deal by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Georiga believes that Russia broke its commitment under the peace deal by keeping large numbers of troops in the two breakaway regions and failed to withdraw from areas which had been under Georgian control before the war in August. The peace brokered deal obliged Moscow to withdraw its forces from areas outside Georgia’s breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

By ratifying treaties with the Georgian breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Russia is not only establishing these two regions as independent states, but is furthering their own economic, military, and diplomatic relations with these two regions. These treaties illustrate Russia’s as well as South Ossetia’s and Abkhazia’s commitment to cooperate with one another. Through establishing diplomatic relations, Russia, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia are demonstrating interdependence. How often states interact with and mutually depend on one another will inevitably increase their opportunities for reciprocity. These treaties help to create a sound foundation for future joint cooperation and partnership between Russia and the two breakaway regions.

Liberal

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081029/118011845.html

http://africa.reuters.com/world/news/usnTRE49S2UX.html

October 30, 2008 at 5:07 pm