UN expresses concern over Russian move

UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern on Tuesday over Russia’s recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the two breakaway regions of Georgia.

“The question of recognition of states is a matter for sovereign states to decide,” Ban said in a statement issued by his spokesperson. “Today’s developments may have wider implications for security and stability in the Caucasus,” the statement said. “The Secretary-General regrets that ongoing efforts to find a common solution on the way forward in the crisis in Georgia within the Security Council may be complicated,” it added.

Earlier, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin informed the UN chief of its decision to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Churkin told a press conference at UN Headquarters in New York that he had passed on to the UN chief a letter from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev “announcing the decision ... to recognise the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.”

Churkin read out to correspondents a statement that had been issued in Moscow by the Foreign Affairs Ministry which provided a detailed explanation on Russia’s position.