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Decision on recognition of Abkhazia, South Ossetia will be made “when everyone is ready for it,” lawmaker says

A decision on the recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia will be made “when everyone is ready for it,” Vital Busko, a member of the House of Representatives’ Committee on International Affairs and Relations within the CIS, told reporters in Minsk on Friday.

“This issue is currently at the stage of consideration,” Mr. Busko noted, describing the issue as difficult. “It was discussed and our parliamentarians visited all those countries, including Georgia,” he said. “And now all materials are being summarized and studied, including at the foreign ministry.”

He noted that no special parliamentary session would be called to debate this issue and a regular spring session would begin on April 2.

“The issue of the customs union [of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia] and the issue of the conditions on which we will trade with those countries [Abkhazia and South Ossetia] have nothing to do with the issue of political recognition,” said Anton Kudasaw, deputy director of the foreign ministry’s external economic relations department. “The problem of political recognition is rather widespread in the world, but this does not impede normal participation in international trade. Our fundamental approach is: Belarus intends to fully abide by its international commitments for ensuring access to the Belarusian market, and, accordingly, access for our goods to the markets of absolutely all countries and territories, and in the full scope of the commitments that were made.”

Abkhazia expects Belarus to recognize its independence and “sees its future in being part of the Union State of Russia and Belarus,” Sergei Bagapsh, leader of Georgia’s breakaway region, said in Moscow on Tuesday.

“We are in dialogue with Belarus and we hope that Belarus, as a country close to us, will recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which will make it easier for us to join the Union State,” RIA Novosti quoted Mr. Bagapsh as saying at a meeting with students.

Abkhazia also wants to join the customs union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, he said, adding that this would be the next step.