The day of August 26, 2008 in the history of South Ossetia and Abkhazia will forever be marked by a truly fateful historical event - the recognition by the Russian Federation of the sovereignty and state independence of both republics. This is stated in the congratulation of President of South Ossetia Alan Gagloev to the leader of Abkhazia Aslan Bzhania on the Day of Recognition of Independence.
Gagloev has noted that when making the decision to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the Russian leadership took into account the compliance of the statehood of both our countries with internationally recognized criteria, as well as their democratic foundations, many years of successful experience of independent development, and the repeatedly proven readiness of the peoples of our republics to defend their right to freedom and self-determination.
"The positive changes taking place in Abkhazia, the country's confident progress along the path of strengthening and developing statehood, and successes in socio-economic development testify to the creative potential of the people of Abkhazia, who have chosen the path of freedom, and to the correctness of the decision of the leadership of the Russian Federation to recognize the sovereignty and state independence of Abkhazia," the congratulation reads.
Gagloev continued that the relations of long-standing friendship and genuine brotherhood, linking the peoples of the two republics since time immemorial, have been further strengthened by the commonality of historical destinies, reflected in Russia's simultaneous decision to recognize both states.
The leader of the Republic of South Ossetia has expressed his conviction that the relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries will have a thousand-year perspective.
