Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, signed with them the treaties of friendship and mutual assistance, ensuring the security of their borders, as well as military security on the basis of the signed agreements. These new realities in the Caucasus should be recognized, announced in Brussels Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov, answering the questions of journalists after a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council at the level of Foreign Ministers.
According to him, these realities have been gradually penetrating into the minds.
"The fact that at the Geneva Discussions on Transcaucasia South Ossetia , Abkhazia and Georgia, along with Russia, the US, EU, UN, OSCE participate equally in discussions on security and humanitarian issues, has confirmed that there is no other way but a dialogue," – emphasized Lavrov.
Speaking about the processes on arrangement of the state border between South Ossetia and Georgia, the Foreign Minister stressed that the state border should certainly be protected, and violations on both sides should be suppressed.
"There are rules, reflecting the global practice. As soon as the "hotheads" cool down, maybe the wire will not be required. We want the peoples of Transcaucasia to live in peace, friendship and good neighborhood. In addition to bilateral relations with Georgian partners, we will strive for this purpose. I hope that the agenda will return the question of restoring diplomatic relations, interrupted on the initiative of the Georgian side,"- said Lavrov.