Fri 06 November 2009 | 07:20 GMT Text size:

European Union

Possible recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by Belarus would contradict to the spirit of cooperation and hardly facilitate it within the framework of the Eastern Partnership policy, said Hans-Dieter Lucas, an authorized representative on Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia of the German Foreign Ministry, speaking at the 12th Minsk Forum on November 5.

He called EU's position on this issue ‘clear’, as the independence of these regions had not been recognized by any EU state or any other partners of the EU’s new policy.

In turn, Stephan Ericsson, ambassador of Sweden, chairing the EU, called the position of Minsk that has never recognized self-declared republics ‘wise’. The diplomat noted that Belarus has a right to take any decision on this issue.

Bundestag deputy Carl-Georg Wellman said the European Union has disapproved the way that Russia chose to settle territorial conflicts. “I doubt that it would be reasonable for Belarus to recognize Russia’s policy in such issues”, the German deputy said.
 

Georgia Online