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Residents of Tiraspol, the capital of Transdniestria (shown), are asking: 'Why Not Us?', after Kosovo was recognized by the U.S.

SUKHUMI (Tiraspol Times) - "If anyone thinks that Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transdniestria will stop after the recognition of Kosovo, they are making a big mistake," announced Abkhazia's President Sergei Bagapsh right after Kosovo unilaterally declared independence against the wishes of Serbia.

Along with his counterpart in Transdniestria - President Igor Smirnov - he is now preparing a joint appeal for recognition of the states, turning their current 'de facto' reality of independent statehood into a formal 'de jure' situation after nearly two decades in legal limbo.

In both Abkhazia and Transdniestria, residents are now asking: If Kosovo can be recognized as an independent state, why can't we?

" - Kosovo is a precedent," declared Bagapsh, saying that Abkhazia, Transdniestria and South Ossetia would submit requests for the recognition of their independence to Russia, the United Nations and the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States). At the same time, however, he stresses that the countries have a better case for independent statehood than Kosovo, both historically and legally under international law.

" - We said one and two years ago that the recognition of Kosovo was immaterial to us. We started our independence campaign earlier and would continue it to the end," Bagapsh said.

Four unrecognized countries

Along with South Ossetia, Nagorno Karabakh and Transdniestria, the new and emerging Republic of Abkhazia is one of the four former Soviet regions that declared their independence in the 1990s and fought for their independence but that have not yet been recognized as states. Officials and citizens alike are now saying that Kosovo would create a legal precedent that they too could follow.

" - If they recognized Kosovo, how are we any worse?" said Nodar Sheoua, a student in Sukhumi, as reported by Reuters.

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on Sunday. Less than 15% of the world's countries have given formal recognition to Kosovo.

Western backers of Kosovo's independence claim that it does not set a precedent, but the former Soviet nations call this a double standard that will now be harder to defend.

Home to more than 200,000 people, Abkhazia has run its own affairs since a fierce war for independence right after the break-up of the Soviet Union. The mountainous state, which borders Russia to one side and Georgia to the other, has its own flag, elected government and armed forces.

Transdniestria announces new era has begun

Abkhazia's democratically elected president, Sergei Bagapsh, said at a news conference last week that his de-facto country was just as entitled to recognition as Kosovo.

" - We will shortly apply to the leadership of Russia, the CIS countries, the UN and other international organizations to recognize our independence," Bagapsh said.

Transdniestria, which seceded from Moldova before Moldova even was an independent country, said Kosovo proved that international rules on the inviolability of borders "were receding into history."

" - Kosovo's recognition produces a new system of measures that we believe should be applied to all countries," said Yevgeny Shevchuk, speaker of the Transdniestrian parliament, told the press.

"A new era has opened in international relations," said Yevgeny Shevchuk, adding that arguments against independence for various regions would now be put to the test. "A new system of international relations was formed the moment part of a country, based on a series of historical developments, decided to live independently, and this country can gain recognition." (With information from Reuters)

See also:
» Transdniestria seeks recognition of its 'de facto' independence [1]
» Pridnestrovie independence follows Kosovo's, govt says [2]
» PMR Foreign Ministry: "Kosovo sets new model for conflict solving" [3]