Conservatism and stereotyped thinking in foreign policy – factors, which caused frustration among many states and international organizations inflexible in their response to the changed political realities. An example of such sluggishness – the persistent unwillingness to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and the support to "the territorial integrity" of Georgia, which throughout the post-Soviet period had no control over these republics. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, South Ossetia and Abkhazia became de-facto independent states, and in 2008, they sovereignty was recognized by Russia.

"We deeply appreciate the efforts of the Russian diplomats who raised before the OSCE a question about recognition of South Ossetia", stated to the RES Agency the South Ossetian Foreign Minister Murat Djioev commenting on the statement by the RF Permanent Representative to the OSCE Anvar Azimov.