Ukraine govt condemns Russia recognition of Georgian regions (Roundup)

Aug 26, 2008, 18:47 GMT

Kiev - Ukraine's government on Tuesday sharply condemned Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev's Tuesday recognition of the independence of the Georgian breakaway regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia, but Ukrainian opposition leaders spoke out in favour.

Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the Russian decision 'a gross violation of international law, bilateral, and multilateral treaties.'

Russian signed a 1991 agreement guaranteeing the territorial integrity of former Soviet republics, and its decision to recognize the independence of two Georgian provinces directly contradicted that commitment, the Foreign Ministry said in part.

Using some of the harshest language heard yet in the often acrimonious Russia-Ukraine dialogue, the statement described the Kremlin move as 'de facto annexation ... categorically condemned by Ukraine.'

Ukraine's government without apparent warning Moscow cancelled a August 27 visit by high-level Kiev politicians to Moscow. A Kremlin statement said it was 'unfortunate ... that we are learning of our counterpart's decisions through the mass media.'

But Ukrainian politician Viktor Yanukovich, head of Ukraine's opposition Regions party, supported Medvedev's move, saying 'Ukraine should respect the will of the peoples of Abkhazia and South Ossetia,' in an Interfax news agency interview.

The pro-Russia Yanukovich said the status of the two regions was similar to Kosovo's separation from Serbia, and argued Ukraine should recognize the independence of both renegade Georgian provinces.

Arseny Yatseniok, a pro-Europe politician and close ally of Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, criticised the Kremlin, saying 'only the United Nations can rule on this question (of the status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia).'

Making the comments to reporters during a visit to Ukraine's western Ivano-Frankivsk province, Yatseniok said Russia's recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia 'is factually a violation of international law.'

The conflict between Russia and the West over the two Georgian provinces would have 'direct consequences' on Ukraine's security, he added.

Ukraine's government and society are sharply split on relations with Russia.

A majority of Ukrainians have been opposed to NATO membership for years according to repeated polls, in large part because of Ukrainian fears joining the alliance would mean sending troops to fight in the Middle East.

Ukrainian friendliness towards Russia has, according to recent polls, eroded somewhat in recent weeks, due to the Russo-Georgian war, and due to possible parallels between Russian support for Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and the Kremlin's assertions it is obliged to protect ethnic Russians living in Ukraine's Crimean peninsula.