Georgia slams Russia´s move on Abkhazia

Source: Xinhua | 03-07-2008 07:54

MOSCOW, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Georgia accused Russia on its decision earlier Thursday to lift the ban on trade, economic, financial, and transport relations with Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia, Russian news agencies reported.

"We believe any support for separatism in a neighboring country on the part of Russia is illegitimate," Georgian Foreign Minister David Bakradze was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying.

"Russia's decision is very dangerous, as the situation moves to a totally new dimension after it and Russia will bear the full brunt of responsibility for it," Bakradze said.

Georgian parliament speaker Nino Burdzhanadze dismissed Russia's decision as an "unacceptable and appalling" one. She told reporters in Brussels she believes the United States and European countries will offer an appropriate reaction to Russia' s move.

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced in a statement on Thursday that Russia has lifted a ban along borderlines on trade and economic, financial, transport and other ties with Abkhazia, which has been seeking independence since the early 1990's.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei