RI not to recognize Georgia breakaways

Lilian Budianto , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Thu, 09/04/2008 10:17 AM | World

Indonesia would not follow suit with Russia in recognizing South Ossetia and Abkhazia, two pro-Moscow regions of Georgia that asserted their independence after waves of violence with their former state.

Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah said recognition of the two breakaway regions would be almost impossible, citing Indonesia's foreign cause to uphold a respect for territorial sovereignty.

"It would be hard for Indonesia to recognize the two breakaway regions as independent countries because they were still engaged in territorial disputes with Georgia. Our country's principle is to uphold the national unity of a state and we will not compromise on it," Faizasyah said.

Russia has supported the independence of the two rebel regions in a move that has severed ties with not only the former Soviet territory of Georgia, but also with the United States and the European Union.

The Kremlin has faced isolation over its recognition of the two breakaways that have closer ethnic ties to the people of Russia.

Georgia on Tuesday broke diplomatic relations with Russia, which was followed with the closure of Russian embassy in Tbilisi the same day.

Earlier last month, Georgia attempted to retake South Ossetia, which broke away from Georgia in the 1990s, under military actions involving air and naval forces.

The occupation was met by Russia, which ordered troops and tanks against the Georgian offensive. It was the largest engagement by Russian forces since the end of the Cold War.

Indonesia has also maintained its position on the status of Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia, an ally of Russia, in February this year under support from European countries and the United States.

Indonesia was not in a position to recognize Serbia's independence so far as it was declared without the acknowledgment of its former state, Faizasyah said.