Foreign Office slams Russia 'annexation'
Fighting in South Ossetia earlier this month
Tuesday, 26, Aug 2008 04:00
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has attacked Russian recognition of the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Talking to inthenews.co.uk, the UK government 'categorically rejected' the Russian move.
A spokesperson said the FCO wanted to reaffirm Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
"This is contrary to obligations Russia has repeatedly taken on in UN security council resolutions.
"It does nothing to improve the prospect of peace in the Caucasus."
Georgia's foreign ministry said Russian recognition, which follows a recommendation from the Duma on Monday, amounted to "unconcealed annexation".
Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has now given his backing to the two Georgian regions' bid for independence.
The Reuters news agency quoted Mr Medvedev as saying South Ossetia and Abkhazia had the right to determine their own futures.
Georgian shelling of South Ossetia on August 8th sparked a ten-day conflict between Tbilisi and Moscow that saw both sides accuse each other of genocide.
It led to Nato saying normal relations with Russia had been made impossible.