From: MSN Nicknamepsychoteddybear24 (Original Message) Sent: 11/24/2006 9:55 AM
ABKHAZ WARY OF GEORGIA'S WESTERN DRIVE
The breakaway republic fears the implications of Georgia's NATO ambitions.
By Inal Khashig in Sukhum
Political leaders in Abkhazia view the prospect of Georgia entering NATO with
deep anxiety, with government officials saying such a move would be a grave
threat to their own hopes of achieving independence, and warning that it could
spur them to move even closer to Russia.
"Above all, we see ourselves as a country allied with Russia," said Sergei
Shamba, foreign minister of the unrecognised republic. "It's well known that
NATO expansion in our region runs counter to Russia's interests.
"If Georgia joins the North Atlantic Alliance, recognition of Abkhaz
independence will become more difficult since the kind of support Georgia will
get from NATO members will be of a different order; it will carry more weight."
Abkhaz officials ...
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