EU bezorgd over toekomst Abchazië (en)
EU officials are concerned that Russia is ready to recognise Abkhazia, one of two Georgian breakaway provinces that up to now have not been accorded any official recognition by Russia or any other member of the international community.
"There is a growing preoccupation and anxiety that Russia may be paving the way for recognition of Abkhazia," EU external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner i said on Monday (10 February) ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers.
On Thursday (6 February), Russia lifted trade restrictions on Abkhazia.
Following the recognition of the independence of Serbia's breakaway province, Kosovo, by many EU member states as well as the US and other countries, Russia has argued that the move sets a precedent, hinting that it may recognise the independence of South Caucasian irredentist governments such as those of Abkhazia or South Ossetia - both Georgian provinces.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili swiftly responded, condemning Moscow's full restoration of trade with the breakaway province as a "grave provocation."
Ms Ferrero-Waldner stressed the EU's support for Georgia and rejected Russia's linkage to Kosovo.
"Georgia's territorial integrity has always been clearly supported by the EU ... this is absolutely clear," she said.
Later in the day, Dimitrij Rupel, Slovenian foreign affairs minister, said Georgia was a particular point of concern for European foreign ministers, as "Russia and the Confederation of Independent States have decided to draw certain parallels with Kosovo."
Mr Rupel, who chaired the ministerial meeting, said that the ministers were mostly concerned about Abkhazia rather than South Ossetia, but they had yet to take any decisions on the matter.
Ahead of the meeting, Sweden and Poland encouraged the EU to take a stronger stance in support of Georgia.
Following Russia's lifting of sanctions last week, Abkhazia then called on Russia, the EU and the UN to recognise its independence. South Ossetia quickly followed suit, but Georgia seems most immediately worried about Abkhazia.
Speaking to the EUobserver in Brussels on Friday (7 February), the speaker of the Georgian parliament, Nino Burjanadze, said Russia's announcement was "really bad news" for the South Caucasian republic.
"When Russia says they are saying they are stopping their economic embargo of Abkhazia, it means that they are going, step by step, in the direction of the annexation of this territory," she said.
"The message Russia is sending here is not only for Georgia, but also for Europe and NATO. This is to put obstacles on our path to NATO membership."
"Russia's priority number one is to prevent Georgia from joining NATO," she said. "Until we are in the [EU and NATO] club, Russia will always hope that it can keep Georgia under Russian influence.
Georgia is hoping that at its 2008 summit in Bucharest, NATO will allow the country participation in the membership action plan (MAP), a mechanism designed to aid countries prepare for future membership in the Western military alliance.