Western countries condemn Russia for recognition of South Ossetia's and Abkhazia's independence

Spokespersons of the countries of the West have made their acted with the statements condemning Russia for recognizing the South Ossetia's and Abkhazia's independence by means of decrees signed today by RF's President Dmitri Medvedev.

Thus, Great Britain has rejected Russian President's appeal to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. "We categorically reject it and reiterate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia," said the press secretary of the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "It is against Russia's obligations repeatedly given in resolutions of the Security Council (of the UN)," she has added.

Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel has blamed Russia for recognition of Abkhazia's and South Ossetia's independence. Ms Merkel has stated that this decision "is absolutely unacceptable." "It contradicts to the principles of territorial integrity as the fundamental right," she has added during her visit to Estonia, the Reuters reports.

Franco Frattini, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, has expressed his regret on Russia's recognition of Abkhazia's and South Ossetia's independence. "Certainly, it's a new complication to aggravate the already complicated situation," Mr Frattini told journalists, having noted that he "regrets" about Russia's decision, the RIA "Novosti" reports. Earlier, Franco Frattini had noted that "the Kremlin's decision to recognize the independence of the breakaway republics is contradictory to the universally respected principle of the international public and Italy, the principle of territorial integrity and independence of Georgia, the principle that the government of Russia itself had promised not to encroach on."

The Russia's decision to recognize Abkhazia's and South Ossetia's independence is "a wilful violation of the international law," has stated the Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs Charles Bildta, as reported by the France Press.

Recognition by Russia of Abkhazia's and South Ossetia's independence has "caused regret" in the USA. The ITAR-TASS reports that this was stated by Condoleezza Rice, US Secretary of State, who is now on her visit to Ramallah on the Western Bank of the Jordan River.

Azerbaijan has also declared that its position remains unchanged. According to Hazar Ibragim, official spokesman of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Baku is unambiguously supporting the territorial integrity of Georgia.