PACE-voorzitter: sterke veroordeling van Ruslands erkenning van de onafhankelijkheid van Zuid-Ossetië en Abchazië (en)

Met dank overgenomen van Raad van Europa (RvE) i, gepubliceerd op dinsdag 26 augustus 2008.

Press release - 597(2008)

PACE President strongly condemns Russia's recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia

Strasbourg, 26.08.2008 - Lluís Maria de Puig, the President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), has strongly condemned Russia's recognition of the independence of the Georgian territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

"When it became a member of the Council of Europe, Russia promised to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbours. With today's announcement, that promise is in tatters," the President said.

"This is a clear and deliberate violation of international law and consciously flouts a basic principle of the Council of Europe. This action, far from saving lives, only inflames the situation further and creates additional obstacles to resolving this conflict peacefully.

The Assembly will now assess the consequences of this action at its forthcoming session (29 September-3 October)."

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