South Ossetia to raise independence issue in UN

Tskhinvali hopes that the self-proclaimed independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia will also be considered by the UN, the Deputy Foreign Minister of South Ossetia, Kazbulat Tskhovrebov, told Golos Rossii.

He said that the republic needs such an opportunity to prove its independence, which does not violate international law. He added that, despite the decision by the International Court of the UN on Kosovo being consultative in nature, it creates an international legal precedent.

The court only assessed the declaration of independence. However, the decision can be considered an indirect recognition of the independence of Kosovo, which will encourage other countries to recognize its independence.

Abkhaz leader Sergey Bagapsh said earlier that the International Court in the Hague for Kosovo is one of the supporters of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Interfax reports.

Bagapsh expressed hope that the decision will be a step towards further recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by other countries. He did not rule out a set of Latin American countries recognizing the independence of Abkhazia, following Nicaragua and Venezuela.