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Russia ratifies treaties with Georgia's breakaway regions
Russia's parliament on Wednesday quickly ratified treaties cementing close economic and military ties with Georgia's two breakaway provinces. -
- Agencies
- Published: 14:44 October 29, 2008
Moscow: Russia's parliament on Wednesday quickly ratified treaties cementing close economic and military ties with Georgia's two breakaway provinces.
The State Duma, or lower house, voted unanimously to endorse the friendship treaties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia which were signed in the Kremlin last month. The
Duma, dominated by Kremlin-controlled parties, quickly rubber stamps government proposals.
Russia recognized both provinces as independent states following its war with Georgia in August. The treaties envisage the deployment of 3,800 Russian troops in each of
the two provinces.
Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a letter to lawmakers that the treaties were necessary to create the legal basis for the deployment of Russian troops to the territories.
"The Russian troops presence is necessary to protect peace in the region and ensure reliable security," the ministry said, adding that the treaties envisage aid in case of
aggression.
Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin told lawmakers Wednesday that the troop numbers could be reduced in the future, if the security situation improves there.
He criticized Georgia for deploying special forces to the areas near Abkhazia and South Ossetia, saying that creates an "explosive" situation in the region. Georgian officials have said they can deploy police forces wherever they deem it necessary.
Russia has said it fully met its commitments under a peace deal brokered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy which obliged Moscow to withdraw its forces from areas outside Georgia's breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The European Union deployed its monitors to the areas after the Russian pullout.
But Georgia has accused the Kremlin of breaking its commitments under the peace deal by keeping large numbers of troops in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and failing to
withdraw from areas which had been under Georgian control before the war.
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