TFGG01: SLOVAKIA REJECTS ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000397 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPKO PGOV PREL MARR GG RU LO SUBJECT: TFGG01: SLOVAKIA REJECTS ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA RECOGNITION REF: A. STATE 91894 ¶B. BRATISLAVA 393 ¶C. BRATISLAVA 390 ¶D. BRATISLAVA 384 ¶E. BRATISLAVA 372 (SBU) Following on our continuing discussions of the Georgian situation with GoS officials detailed in refs B-E, the Slovak MFA has issued the following statement in response to Russia's recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia: (begin text) "In connection with the recognition of the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by the Rusian Federation the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic considers necessary to state the following: "The Slovak Republic disapproves of these steps and confirms the main principles, based on the longstanding position of the Slovak Republic regarding Georgia and the solution of conflicts on its territory. These principles are: sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders and solution of the conflicts exclusively by peaceful means and talks in compliance with the international law. "The government of the Slovak Republic, as one of few EU member states, can insist on the principle of the territorial integrity of Georgia, as it has done also in the case of Serbia and Kosovo. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic calls upon the other members of the international community to follow, also in this case, strictly the international law and these principles." (end text) OBSITNIK