Breakaway Regions Seek Closer Ties With Russia

Georgia has two breakaway republics 14 September 2005 -- Representatives of four regions that have broken away from ex-Soviet republics reiterated their intention in Moscow today to seek international recognition and closer ties with Russia.

A Russian lawmaker said it was about time the breakaway regions were recognized as states.

Representatives of Georgia's breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh disputed by Azerbaijan and Armenia, and Moldova's Transdniester region met in Moscow and pledged to pursue independence.

Konstantin Zatulin, a lawmaker from the Kremlin-directed United Russia party, called the sovereignty of these entities a reality that should be accepted.

(AP)