Lithuania denounces 'carousel of violations'

  • 2008-08-26
  • By Mike Collier

VILNIUS - Lithuania's Foreign Ministry released a strongly-worded statement on 25th August, denouncing Russian actions in Georgia and a subsequent vote in the Duma to recognise Abkhazian and South Ossetian independence as illegal and dangerous.


"Georgia's territorial integrity was openly and roughlyencroached, when the State Duma of the Russian Federation voted infavour of addressing the President of Russia with a request torecognise the independence of two administrative units of Georgia," the statement said. "Such a vote is not consistent either withthe international law, or the principle of good neighbourly relations."

"The above-mentioned vote of the Russian Duma alsobreaches those cooperation agreements between the European Union andRussia, which are presently in effect," the ministry believes.

"We cannot overlook the fact that Russian Duma voted for therecognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia unilaterally and disregardingthe consequences which the decision will have on the internationalpeace, security and the image of the United Nations," it continues.

The statement finishes with a flourish, too, saying: "Please take notice that this is already not the first time, whendecisions made by the highest Russian authority institutions haveviolated the rules of the international law. We would like to summonRussian leaders to end this carousel of violations as soon as possible."