world leaders STRONGLY CONDEMN RUSSIAN’S IRRESPONSIBLE DECISION to recognize the independence of two Georgian breakaway provinces.

    RUSSIAN PRESIDENT DMITRY MEDEVDEV’s unwise decision, to recognize the independence of two Georgian breakaway provinces, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, violates a cease-fire deal brokered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to end the conflict between Moscow and Tbilisi. The Russian decision was immediately condemned as illegal by the leaders of all democratic nations of the world. The 26 countries of NATO -- which Georgia is seeking to join – unanimously agreed to urge Moscow to reconsider its decision. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili called Russia an "aggressor state." 

    President George W. Bush in a strongly worded statement said: "The United States condemns the decision by the Russian president to recognize as independent states the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia." The President said Russia's decision was "inconsistent" with the French-brokered cease-fire agreement that ended the fighting and called on Russia to "reconsider this irresponsible decision." The President added: "The territorial integrity and borders of Georgia must be respected, just as those of Russia or any other country. Russia's action only exacerbates tensions and complicates diplomatic negotiations."

    French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Russia's decision to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states broke international law, accords for security and cooperation in Europe, as well as United Nations resolutions.  He also warned that Russia might have its eyes on other neighboring countries such as Crimea, Ukraine and Moldova after its invasion of Georgia, and underlined, “it is very dangerous.” British Foreign Minister David Miliband, in Ukraine to rally support for "the widest possible coalition against Russian aggression,"  said Russia “takes no account of the views of the hundreds of thousands of Georgians and others who have been forced to abandon their homes in the two territories."  He added that Great Britain considers the action as “unjustified” and “unacceptable.”

     The German government said Chancellor Angela Merkel has pressed Medvedev to fulfill the terms of a European-brokered cease-fire in Georgia and condemned Moscow's recognition of independence of the two separatist provinces.  NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the Russian decision was in "direct violation of numerous U.N. Security Council resolutions regarding Georgia's territorial integrity,” that were fully approved by Russia. 

      OUR OPINION: All Free Nations of the World, without hesitation, should support President Saakashvili.  After the "Old Soviet Bear's" aggression, the Georgian President said: "My appeal to the free world is to condemn and reject Russia's dangerous and irrational decision -- not only for Georgia's sake -- but for the sake of preserving the fundamental basis of international law and order. As a result of this emotional appeal,  Moscow failed to obtain from close allies the international support it was seeking to counter Western nations’ strong condemnation. Instead, Russia was rebutted during yesterday summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, or SCO, formed by Russia, China and four former Soviet Republics. At the conclusion of the meeting, the SCO issued a joint statement in which it denounces the use of force and underscores the need for “respect of the historical and cultural traditions of each country and each people, and for efforts aimed at preserving the unity of the state and its territorial integrity."  None of the other SCO members joined Russia in recognizing the independence of South Ossetia  and Abkhazia.