Abkhazia Appeals for World Recognition

[bemildred]

Source: AP

SUKHUMI, Georgia (AP) — The Russian-backed region of Abkhazia appealed to the world community Friday to recognize it as independent from Georgia, citing Kosovo as a precedent.

In a unanimous resolution, Abkhazia's legislature called on the world community and the Russian Parliament to recognize it as an independent nation.

"The republic of Abkhazia has for 15 years successfully existed as an independent nation," the resolution said, citing Kosovo's independence as justification for the timing.

The appeal follows a nearly identical resolution earlier this week by another breakaway Georgian region, South Ossetia.

Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jPFFKq0mxqQw4lswbA3YhM1YTqIAD8V8OMT00

[Glorfindel]

1. Well, whoop-de-doo...what's next, Nagorno-Karabakh?

KwaZulu-Natal? Corsica? Quebec? Texas?

[bemildred]

2. That's true, there are a lot of similar cases. nt

[Posteritatis]

3. I'm waiting for individuals to start

In fact, why wait? The Free State of Posteritatis declares independence as of right now!

[Der Blaue Engel]

5. Didn't Mr. Show do that once?

I tried to find a YouTube video of it, but, alas, no one had the good taste to have put one up.

[bemildred]

4. Georgia Criticizes Russia for Lifting Trade Restrictions on Abkhazia

Georgia has criticized Russia for lifting trade and financial sanctions on the Georgian separatist region of Abkhazia, which is seeking recognition as an independent country.

Georgia's Foreign Ministry issued a statement Friday, saying Moscow's action is an attempt to infringe on Georgia's "sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Russia announced its decision Thursday, saying it no longer considers itself bound by the terms of a 1996 sanctions pact approved by the Commonwealth of Independent States - a regional grouping of former Soviet republics.

That move followed intense Russian diplomatic efforts to prevent Western recognition of Kosovo's independence from Serbia. Moscow and others have warned that an independent Kosovo could fuel separatist movements elsewhere in Europe and beyond.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-03-07-voa29.cfm