Appeal of the people of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on the issue of Kosovo
The peoples of Abkhazia and South Ossetia follow closely the developments around Kosovo. Should this region secede from Serbia and be recognized independent, it will yet again testify convincingly to the fact that the settlement of inter-ethnic conflicts is not only based on the principle of territorial integrity of States. Realization of the right of peoples to self-determination, provided there is evidence that they are capable of managing their own lives and ensuring development in accordance with the universally recognized democratic norms, might prove the only means of peaceful settlement of conflict situations.