Gryzlov: Belarus close to recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia

Russia welcomes plans of official Minsk to consider recognition of independent Georgian regions.

Boris Gryzlov, the head of the State Duma and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Belarusian–Russian “union”, hopes that formation of a working group in the Belarusian “parliament” on preparation for consideration of South Ossetia and Abkhazia’s requests on recognition will “speed up our Belarusian colleagues to make the necessary decision” on the issue.

As the press service of Duma’s fraction “United Russia” reports, Gryzlov said this on Wednesday November 6 commenting the decision of Minsk.

“Dwellers of the two state are wating for this decision,” the speaker emphasized. “If our Belarusian colleagues need any help of the members of the State Duma, we are ready to render aid,” he promised.

We remind that on Thursday November 5, the Belarusian “parliament” adopted a decision on creation of a working group in the Council of the “house of representatives” to prepare and consider the requests of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on recognition of the two republics.

Head of Lukashenka’s Administration Uladzimir Makei said during the Minsk Forum on November 4 that the Belarusian parliament would consider a question of recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia next week.

“The parliament will start considering an issue on recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia next week,” Makei said.

Hans-Dieter Lucas, the special envoy for Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, said at the 12th Minsk Forum on November 5 that possible recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia would contradict the spirit of cooperation and would hardly facilitate ties in the framework of the Eastern Partnership programme.

The representative of the German Foreign Office said the EU position on the issue was “clear”, as independence of the regions hadn’t been recognized by any of the EU member states.