STATEMENT OF THE STATE DUMA On Policy of the Russian Federation regarding Abkhazia, the South Ossetia and Transnistria

The State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation declares that after unilateral declaration of Kosovo’s independence, it has become necessary for the Russian Federation to revise its policy towards Abkhazia, the South Ossetia and Trasnistria based on the expression of will of the resident population.

Members of the State Duma express their support to foreign policy direction of the leadership of the Russian Federation, which does not intend under any circumstances to facilitate the destruction of the established system of international relations that was formed with great efforts after the Second World War and stands for its maintenance and qualitative development.

The State Duma demonstrates respect towards sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and Moldavia within frames of their internationally recognized borders. At the same time, the deputies of the State Duma believe that the started process of recognition of Kosovo is contrary to the norms of International Law. Abkhazia, the South Ossetia and Transnistria that have built during the years of their de facto independence democratic states with own attributes of power, have much more grounds to aspire to international recognition than Kosovo.

The State Duma draws attention that on the both sides of the Russian-Georgian frontier are dislocated the Northern Ossetia and the South Oseetia, in which reside one and the same separated people – Ossetians. Under the circumstances when the universally recognized principles of International Law are not any more stable, there can be created a situation when the right of reunification of people is brought to the forefront.

The State Duma believes that aspiration of Georgia to join NATO is its sovereign right but at the same time it takes note that Russia possesses the right to respect will and to protect its citizens, such are most of citizens, residing in Abkhazia and the Ossetia and who are against Georgia’s accession to this organization. The deputies of the State Duma are unanimous in their opinion that policy direction, taken by the Georgian authorities, leading to the full integration of Georgia in NATO, deprives Georgia of possibility to consolidate the territory and the peoples, residing on it.

The State Duma expresses belief that the Russian Federation should decisively contradict to any attempts of external political, economic and military pressure on Abkhazia, the South Ossetia and Transnistria.

The deputies of the State Duma address the federal bodies of the executive power with an appeal to enhance the support of the citizens of the Russian federation, residing in Abkhazia, the South Ossetia and Transnistria, to review the issue of possibility of opening of the Russian missions in the territory of Abkhazia and of the South Ossetia, to study the possibility of introduction on the borders between the Russian Federation and Abkhazia, between the Russian Federation and the South Ossetia maximum facilitation regime of crossing the borders. At the same time, the deputies of the State Duma stand for activation of multilateral socio-economic and humanitarian cooperation of subjects of the Russian Federation with Abkhazia, the South Ossetia and Transnistria.

The State Duma declares about necessity of maintenance of existing format of presence of peacekeeping forces in Transnistria and in the zones of the Georgian-Abkhazian and the Georgian-South Ossetian conflicts till their settlement on the basis of mutually acceptable agreements. Withdrawal of the Russian peacekeepers can lead to catastrophic consequences for the civil population and destabilization of the situation in these regions.

The State Duma appeals to the Government of the Russian Federation with a proposal to activate efforts on guaranteeing security of the citizens of the Russian Federation, residing on the territory of Abkhazia and of the South Ossetia and to discuss an issue of possibility to enhance potential of peacekeeping forces in the zones of the Georgian-Abkhazian and the Georgian-South Ossetian conflicts and also to consider the other measures for guaranteeing peace and stability in this region.

In accordance with opinion of the deputies of the State Duma, in case of possible armed attack of Georgia on Abkhazia and the South Ossetia or accession of Georgia to NATO, it is necessary to take all means for protection of the citizens of the Russian Federation, residing on the territory of Abkhazia and of the South Ossetia and to review possibility of acceleration of objective process of sovereignization of Abkhazia and the South Ossetia, to the extent of recognition of their independence in accordance with expression of the will of population.

March 24, 2008.

(www.duma.ru)