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Map of the three unrecognized countries (in red) which are now one step closer to international recognition

MOSCOW (Tiraspol Times) - Transnistria (officially: Pridnestrovie) is one step closer to de jure international recognition after a formal statement of support was adopted Friday by the lower chamber of the Russian Federation's legislative assembly, the Duma. The same is true for Abkhazia and South Ossetia, both bordering the Republic of Georgia.

The approved statement followed hearings on the problems facing three unrecognized republics that declared freedom and independence during the fall of the Soviet Union.

The Duma pointed out that after the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo, Russia needs to change its previous policy towards Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria. It now needs to pay more attention to the will of the people, and their desire for independence, than to the often-opposing principle of territorial integrity which in the case of Kosovo were violated by Pristina and by the nearly forty countries which have so far recognized Kosovo's unilateral independence declaration from Serbia.

The Statement was approved by 440 deputies with a mere 2 abstentions.

Transnistria's sovereignty recognized

Recognizing the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria, the Russian State Duma stated that these three republics, which have built - over the years of their de-facto independence - democracies with all the attributes of statehood, have much more grounds for claiming independence than Kosovo had.

As reported by Infotag, the Duma expressed conviction that Russia must resolutely oppose to any attempts of external political, economic or military pressure on Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria. The deputies requested the President and the Foreign Ministry to strengthen support for Russia citizens living in Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria, and spoke out for acceleration of multifaceted socio-economic and humanitarian cooperation between Russian regions and the three unrecognized republics, Infotag noted.

The State Duma also announced that it stands for preserving the incumbent format of peacekeeping forces in Transnistria and in the zones of the Georgian-Abkhazian and Georgian-South Ossetian conflicts until their lasting settlement on the basis of mutually acceptable agreements. In Transnistria, the format is four sided with troops from Russia, Moldova, Ukraine and Transnistria itself, along with observers from the 56 member nation Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; OSCE. Withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers may lead to catastrophic consequences for the civilian population and to situation destabilization in the regions, the Statement said. (With information from Infotag)

See also:
» Russia won't yet recognize Transnistria independence [1]
» Russia's Parliament wants closer ties with Pridnestrovie, Abkhazia and South Ossetia [2]
» Alexei Ostrovsky: "Some political forces are ready to immediately recognize the unrecognized republics" [3]