MOSCOW, March 19 (UPI) -- Russia will not drop its recognition of the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.
The ministry was responding to a statement from Davaid Bakradze, a spokesman for the Georgian parliament, the Novosti news agency reported. He said that Georgia would like to begin talks with Russia with the goal of improving relations but only if Russia recognizes that the breakaway regions are part of Georgia.
"This is a new element in the approach, but it must not be on the condition of territorial integrity. There is no way back," said Andrei Nesterenko, a ministry spokesman. "Abkhazia and South Ossetia have been recognized by Russia as independent states and they should be treated equally. Other approaches are unacceptable."
The two countries have not had diplomatic relations since last year when Russia sent troops across the border after Tbilisi attempted to bring South Ossetia back under its control. Russia is the only country that recognizes the two regions as independent states.
