Georgia represents threat to region; Ukraine doesn't

[stepanstas]

Lavrov: Georgia represents threat to region

MOSCOW -- Russia does not believe that Ukraine is endangering it in any way, while Georgia represents a threat to the entire region, says Russian FM Sergei Lavrov.

Sergei Lavrov (Beta, file)


“We do not see that there are any threats coming from Ukraine, which we are developing relations with, based on a contractual basis and on internationally recognized principles,” Lavrov said after a meeting with his Abkhaz counterpart Sergei Shamba.

Lavrov said he wished that Ukraine would “as soon as possible overcome a period of emotions and battles, typical for election campaigns” Russian news agency Itar - Tass reported.

But, he added, while Moscow wants to have friendly and neighborly relations with Kiev, Georgia's leaders represent a threat to regional peace and security – "a threat that on one occasion developed into a real war against South Ossetia, Russian peacekeeping troops and Russia.”

That is the reason why Russia is doing everything in its power to prevent these events from repeating themselves, Lavrov said.

He expressed hope that “those who continue to restore the Georgian army realize what they are doing,” pointing out that the safety of newly independent countries was now protected from any attack.

Lavrov was referring to South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

“The Russian foreign policy concept does not envision attacks on other countries,” Russian foreign minister said.

Meanwhile, it was announced that Moscow and Tbilisi agreed to reopen a border checkpoint closed since July 2006, a Georgian deputy foreign minister said on Thursday, according to a RIA Novosti report.

Though the Georgian diplomat promised to announce the exact date of reopening as soon as the motion had been fixed in an accord, which should be signed within the next two weeks, some sources believe the event could take place in early March, the news agency said.

I guess if they say it enough times, they begin to believe it.

"those who continue to restore the Georgian army realize what they are doing" - sounds like a threat to me

[stepanstas]

Poroshenko: Ukraine's stand on Kosovo absolutely clear

KIEV, Feb 2. (Tanjug). Ukraine has not recognized Kosovo's independence as there are no grounds for recognition, Foreign Minister Petro Poroshenko said Tuesday.

The arguments are the same as with regards to Abkhazia and South Ossetia, he told Komersant daily.

Ukraine will never recognize independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia from Georgia, a that would constitute a violation of fundamental principles of international law, he said.

[bm-21Lemko]

Russia couldnt even recognize kosovo if they wanted too. Serbia is a huge importer of russian weapons. Even though serbja has a huge weapons industry.

Now that the two canidates for Ukraine's election are pretty much pro-east Ukraine wont be a threat unfortuanantly.

Abkhazia and south ossetia are independent why do they still use rubles??? food for thought

This is typical of Russia also. Ukraine should create a military alliance of exmember cis states, independent of NATO

[stepanstas]

We had a good thing going with Georgia. The two presidents worked great together. They both represented great things for their nations. That will come to an end now.

For second round elections, I believe Georgia said it wont send monitors. Makes sence, who cares at this point.

[bm-21Lemko]

Originally Posted by stepanstas

We had a good thing going with Georgia. The two presidents worked great together. They both represented great things for their nations. That will come to an end now.

For second round elections, I believe Georgia said it wont send monitors. Makes sence, who cares at this point.

yeah. Relations were beginning to warm up between Ukraine, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. I was starting to see an alliance. Even with the pipeline going through all three countries.

Lets face it relations will always be tense with Poland. Its more or less a situation like Isreal and the Arab States.

But out of those three they had Russia as its focal point with Russians in northern Georgia and Russia siding with Armenia in the karabakh war.

[stepanstas]

It would be nice to see Yuschenko as PM and keeping these relations in tact. If not, it will be tough to restore 5 + years later.

[bm-21Lemko]

true but Georgia i think will be in the same boat. Saskashvilli hasnt really accomplished anything. So most likely that president's seat will fall to a pro-kremlin leader as well.