Konstantin Zatulin: "There exists a group of countries ready to recognize PMR"

Influential Duma-MP Konstantin Zatulin says that a "club" of existing countries must be formed to recognize Pridnestrovie

MOSCOW (Tiraspol Times) - Russia shouldn't necessarily be the first country to recognize Pridnestrovie and the other 'de facto' states on the post-Soviet space, believes influential Duma deputy Konstantin Zatulin. Instead, it will be necessary to bring together a small group of countries who will be ready to recognize Pridnestrovie and the others. As Zatulin confirms in this interview, these countries already exist.

Now is the time to work on preparing this group of countries for what will happen after Kosovo's expected independence declaration. Russia will address the long-pending status settlement issues surrounding Pridnestrovie, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which in the opinion of Konstantin Zatulin should have been recognized as independent states a long time ago. Konstantin Zatulin is an influential Russian MP and foreign policy specialist. Apart from being a deputy to the State Duma, Russia's lower house, he is also director of the Institute of the Commonwealth of Independent States, CIS. He is also a frequent visitor to Pridnestrovie and familiar with the internal situation of the largest of the unrecognized countries in the former Soviet Union.

Will Kosovo be a precedent for the recognition of the independence of Abkhazia, South Ossetia or Pridnestrovie?

" - Regardless of how much the West might claim that "Kosovo is unique" and sui generis, any recognition of the independence of the province against the will of Serbia is a clear and obvious precedent.

There are clear parallels with the unrecognized countries of the former USSR: Ethnic conflicts emerged in the process of disintegration of the previously existing state, wars erupted which now present an obstacle to a political solution, and the outside interest of third parties can not be excluded. Kosovo is only "unique" in the sense that the Kosovo Albanians never fought alone for their independence - they were able to state their independence claim with the backing of NATO convoys.

From the very beginning, the political goal was always to dismember Yugoslavia and its geopolitical role, and NATO's military actions against Yugoslavia followed this purpose. If we look at history, Germany has always tried to prevent a strong Slavic state from existing in the Balkans. The other day, the German Ambassador to Serbia issued a threat: allegedly, if the Serbs won't accept the independence of Kosovo, a number of other "problem areas" will appear such as Vojvodina (where there is a Hungarian minority) and the country in general will disintegrate.

For the United States, Yugoslavia became a convenient pretext to strengthen its military presence in Europe. In Kosovo they built the largest American military base in the world, outside of the United States (Camp Bondsteel, ed.). Perhaps this foreign occupation is the reason for the insistence of the recognition of "independence" of the Kosovo?

In words, Russia has always condemned the NATO war against Yugoslavia, but the actions of Russia have not always been consistent. After prime minister Primakov initially sent friendly airplanes to Yugoslavia as a sign of protest against the NATO bombings, Russia was then represented in its negotiations on Yugoslavia by Victor Chernomyrdin, who wanted to demonstrate his loyalty to Western policy.

Now it is different: Russia will not waiver from its opinion that he independence of Kosovo is only possible with Serbian consent. We possess veto rights, and no UN resolution on the independence of Kosovo will pass. This has provided encouragement for the Serbian people. Pro-Western politicians within Serbia can not, even if they want to, announce their capitulation on this issue because they will immediately become political corpses.

In this situation, the West will begin the scenario of unilateral recognition of an independent Kosovo. First, Albania will recognize Kosovo. Then, perhaps, some third country, followed in quick succession also by recognition from the USA and European countries. And inevitably, Russia is bound to raise the question of recognizing the independence of the post-Soviet republics. This is an additional fact which impels Russia to stand firm on the Kosovo issue."

Please explain...

" - In Russia there is no complete consensus regarding the timeliness of recognition of the unrecognized countries. There is a desire to delay and draw out the moment until it is necessary to take a decision on them. I personally think that they should have already been recognized as independent states, and that this recognition is now overdue. Because South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Pridnestrovie and Nagorno-Karabakh, I might add, have more historical, legal, and political grounds for independence than Kosovo.

Historically, South Osetia and Abkhazia have never been part of the composition of the State of Georgia. These territories (without the consent of the inhabitants!) were included within the administrative boundaries of the Georgian SSR in Soviet times. Ossetia, as a single whole, was part of the Russian Empire, and only in the Soviet period was it divided into north and south. Under Soviet law, Soviet republics (SSRs) could secede from the Union but in this case the autonomous republics (ASSRs) had the right do decide by a referendum to leave or to stay. This right of Abkhazia and South Osetia to self-determination has been trampled. Georgia tried to conquer the autonomous territories by force, and in response both the Abkhaz and the Ossetians defended their right to independence. Pridnestrovie has also independently maintained its military defense. Whatever the opponents might say, it is a fact that the Russian army did not take part in the conflicts in these territories.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Pridnestrovie have not found themselves under someone else's jurisdiction. Ever since the Soviet Union disintegrated, they have 'de facto' been governing themselves independently. Most of the inhabitants of these republics have over the years adopted Russian citizenship. An overwhelming majority. So Russia is responsible for the safety of its citizens."

If Russia recognizes the independence of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Pridnestrovie, then this will complicate its future relations not just with Georgia and Moldova, but also with the West. Doesn't this worry you?

" - This is the main argument used by enemies of official recognition. But from a legal standpoint, any unilateral recognition of the independence of Kosovo by Western countries will open the possibility for Russia to also recognize the sovereign status of the unrecognized countries in the former Soviet Union.

With regard to relations with Georgia, they are already at a freezing point and this is not the fault of Russia. Some in our leadership adhere to a dubious thesis: Reward your enemies, because for your friends the reward is the friendship itself. According to this logic, we lost a lot in Georgia: We did not intervene during the Ajarian conflict, and we withdraw our military bases. In return, we didn't even obtain as much as a thank-you.

The authorities of Georgia have always behaved dishonorably both with respect to the Russian peacekeepers and against the inhabitants of the unrecognized countries. Frankly speaking, the issue is a matter of international law and not in relations with Georgia and Moldova. But here's how much of the Russian establishment reaches its decisions: Avoid confronting the world's superpower on occasions which are not central to Russia's interests. Instead, it is desirable for Russia to assert itself with the West in order to restore the sovereignty of our country. This doesn't mean that Russia can't re-emerge without US-EU agreement. Only that if they constantly interfere with us and trigger conflicts - and the West has this option - the economic development of Russia will be slower and will cost us more."

If the preservation of Yugoslavia wasn't important enough for Russia, why do the unrecognized countries matter?

" - I am certain that if, after Kosovo, Russia does not recognize post-Soviet republics, we will have a problem for ourselves in the years ahead in the Russian North Caucasus and the general negative attitude among voters to the leadership inside the Russia itself. Our people are extremely sensitive to situations where they perceive injustice and betrayal, and will not accept any half-finished remedies.

I propose a way for us to prepare for recognition which will minimize the diplomatic fallout. Under the current circumstances we should first of all talk about the recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which both border on Russia, and then secondly about Pridnestrovie.

And I am not convinced that Russia is obligated to recognize them first. It is necessary in the process of international negotiations to gather a unique "club" of countries that could recognize them, and such countries already exist. For instance, Belarus or Venezuela, whose parliament, by the way, sent election observers to Tskhinvali.

Of course, the West will launch a shitstorm of criticism against Russia. So what? We will not cut them off from our oil and gas. It is time to stop being worried about the inferiority complex which is so obviously present among Russian politicians. Everyone knows: America is brave and patriotic against enemies which it knows are weak but tries not to engage those who can stand up to it since that comes at a higher price." (Translated from Gudok.ru)

See also:
» Russia will formally recognize Transdniester's independence, say MPs
» MP: A country is not "unrecognized" if someone recognizes it

On the web:
» Original text of interview (in Russian)