http://en.rian.ru/russia/20060131/43263700.html
Russian Information Agency (Novosti)
January 31, 2006
"Universal principles" essential to resolving
conflicts - Putin
-"I am not saying that Russia will immediately
recognize Abkhazia or South Ossetia as independent
countries," Putin said. "However, there are
international precedents of the kind."
MOSCOW - Territorial and ethnic conflicts can only be
resolved using consistent and universally acceptable
principles, President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday.
"The principles [applied for conflict resolution] have
to be universal, as any other policy will not be
trusted," the president told the annual Kremlin news
conference.
"If somebody thinks that Kosovo should be granted full
independence, then why should the Abkhazians and South
Ossetians be denied this right?" the president said,
referring to the long-running conflicts between
Georgia and its two breakaway republics of Abkhazia
and South Ossetia.
"I am not saying that Russia will immediately
recognize Abkhazia or South Ossetia as independent
countries," Putin said. "However, there are
international precedents of the kind."
Serbian News Network - SNN
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http://www.antic.org/
