FOREIGN AND
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE News Release issued by The Government News
Network on 26 August 2008
Today's
announcement by President Medvedev that Russia will recognise
South Ossetia and Abkhazia is unjustifiable and unacceptable. It
will also not work. It is contrary to the principles of the peace
agreement, which Russia recently agreed, and to recent Russian
statements. It takes no account of the views of the hundreds of
thousands of Georgians and others who have been forced to abandon
their homes in the two territories.
Today's announcement further inflames an already tense
situation in the region. We fully support Georgia's
independence and territorial integrity, which cannot be changed by
decree from Moscow. We again call on Russia to abide by
international law as the basis for resolving this crisis; and to
implement urgently and in full Russia's commitments to
withdraw forces from Georgia to pre-7 August positions.
I am holding talks today with international partners and will be
visiting Ukraine tomorrow to ensure the widest possible coalition
against Russian aggression in Georgia.
Press Office,
Downing Street (West),
London SW1A 2AL