Russia welcomes South Ossetian and Abkhazian intentions not to use force against Georgia

Russia welcomes the position of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on the
non-use of force or threat of force against Georgia, in accordance
with international law, and believes it offers the prospect of a
decision on the Geneva discussions on stability and security in the
Caucasus, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.

The Abkhaz President, Sergei Bagapsh, and his South Ossetian
counterpart, Eduard Kokoity, made a statement that they will not use
force or threat of force against Georgia, in accordance with
international law, in response to the announcement by the Georgian
President, Mikheil Saakashvili, made in the European Parliament, that
he would never use force to "restore territorial integrity and
sovereignty."

On the 26th of August 2008 Russia recognized the sovereignty of the
two autonomous regions that were previously parts of Georgia. The EU
refused to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia,
expressing support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of
Georgia.