Russia-South Ossetia friendship treaty comes into force
January 20th, 2009 - 8:17 pm ICT by IANSMoscow, Jan 20 (RIA Novosti) A friendship and cooperation agreement between Russia and the breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia has come into force, the Russian foreign minister said Tuesday. Sergei Lavrov said Moscow and Tskhinvali would soon sign an array of agreements on cooperation in the military sphere, border protection and trade.
Russia recognised South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another Georgian separatist republic, as independent states Aug 26 last year, two weeks after the end of a five-day military conflict which began when Georgian forces launched an attack on South Ossetia.
The friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance treaties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia were signed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev last November.
Under the pacts, Russia has pledged to help them protect their borders, and the signatories have granted each other the right to set up military bases in their respective territories.
The treaties recognise dual citizenship, as the majority of people living in South Ossetia and Abkhazia are Russian passport holders. Russia has also agreed to unify its transportation, energy and communications infrastructure with them.
Abkhazia and South Ossetia have so far only been recognised by Russia and Nicaragua. Belarus has said it may recognise the breakaway regions in the future, and Venezuela has voiced support for Russia’s move.
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- US Senate asks Russia to pull out from Abkhazia, South Ossetia - Jul 31, 2011
- Georgia reluctant to restore relations with Russia (Lead) - Mar 03, 2012
- Russia will maintain, not build up n-arsenal: Medvedev - Mar 05, 2010
- South Ossetia to discuss Georgia's peace proposal in Geneva - Dec 09, 2010
- Georgia sends peace proposals for Abkhazia and South Ossetia - Dec 08, 2010
- Moscow worried by Georgian build-up near South Ossetia, Abkhazia - Jan 24, 2009
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- Russia admitted to World Trade Organisation - Dec 17, 2011
- Russia signs cooperation pacts with South Ossetia, Abkhazia - Sep 17, 2008
Tags: abkhazia and south ossetia, border protection, breakaway, communications infrastructure, cooperation agreement, dmitry medvedev, dual citizenship, friendship treaty, independent states, last november, military bases, military conflict, mutual assistance, pacts, passport holders, ria novosti, russian passport, russian president, sergei lavrov, transportation energy
