Abkhazia Looks to Join Belarus-Russia Alliance
September 11, 2008
President Sergey Bagapsh, of the newly independent republic of Abkhazia, has announced it will apply to join the Union of Russia and Belarus. He also signalled Abkhazia’s intention to join the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO).
“After signing the required agreements and documents we will make an application to join as a union state. If the CIS expands, we are ready to join it, as well as the CSTO,” said Bagapsh.
He made the announcement at a Sochi press conference attended by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
Russia recognised the independence of Abkhazia on August 26. Belarus has yet to do so, but the country’s president, Aleksandr Lukashenko, has said he will consider the matter after the Belarus elections at the end of September. Belarus must recognize Abkhazia as an independent state before it can admit it into any political alliance.
The Union of Russia and Belarus functions as a platform for economic and political harmonisation between the two nations, and has put forward plans for a common currency and customs regime.
Link to Story:
www.russiatoday.com/news/news/30272
Link to Video:
www.russiatoday.com/news/news/30272/video
Source: Russia Today, September 2008
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