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Trans-Dniester has already been independent for nearly 18 years, says its president Igor Smirnov. (File photo)

MOSCOW (Tiraspol Times) - After the first parliamentary hearing on the resolution of territorial claims in the still-unrecognized countries in the former Soviet Union, Alexei Ostrovsky, head of the commission for relations with CIS states, has formulated the first recommendations for the executive branch.

Among the recommendations: That the Russian government should establish diplomatic relations with the three new and emerging countries.

On 13 March, Duma MPs discussed the possibility of recognizing the already-existing 'de facto' independence of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transdniestria. As a first step, however, the lower house of Parliament recommended the establishment of diplomatic representations in these republics, while refraining from immediate recognition of their sovereignty.

Media reaction in favor of unrecognized states

According to Ostrovsky, a possible acceptance of the form of Reserved Status for Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transdniestria is an initial step towards granting international legitimacy to these republics.

In the follow up to the hearings, Moscow's mass media was overwhelmingly positive in its reporting of the outcome. Russia Today surveyed some of the top headlines from the country's leading newspapers:

VREMYA NOVOSTEI reports from Thursday’s meeting of the State Duma Committee for CIS affairs: Russia is not yet ready to recognize the full independence of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and the Transdniester republic. However, Russia may opt for postponed independence for them.

KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA writes that the State Duma has finally had its revenge for Kosovo. Not yielding to those MPs who called for immediate recognition, the Russian Parliament nevertheless recommended the Foreign Ministry open Russian missions in the capitals of the three unrecognized republics.

NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA reports on the meeting of the three leaders of the unrecognized post-Soviet states where they decided to unite their efforts to gain international recognition for their countries’ independence. All three, writes the paper, are sure their nations have a stronger claim to independence than Kosovo.

MOSKOVSKIY KOMSOMOLETS writes that the position of the leaders of the unrecognized states is understandable: after Kosovo no one in the world would ever be able to persuade them that after 15 years of factual independence and effective self-governance their nations cannot be legally independent.

NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA again reports from Abkhazia: with the lifting of economic sanctions spirits are high in Sukhumi, the republic’s capital city. The paper quotes a local saying that "The lifting of the sanctions today is a legal confirmation of what is happening in real life." (With information from Russia Today)

See also:
» Russia's Parliament wants closer ties with Pridnestrovie, Abkhazia and South Ossetia [1]
» Is Pridnestrovie a state? [2]
» Transdniestria seeks recognition of its 'de facto' independence [3]