Kazakhstan not to lift CIS sanctions on Abkhazia
By M. Alkhazashvili
(Translated by Diana Dundua)
(Translated by Diana Dundua)
Friday, April 11
After Russia’s decision on March 6 to back out of a Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) treaty that imposed sanctions on Georgia’s breakaway region of Abkhazia, Kazakhstani officials have stated Astana will not follow suit.
Two other CIS countries, Azerbaijan and Ukraine, announced that they would continue to observe the 1996 treaty despite calls from Moscow for other CIS states to follow its lead.
“Kazakhstan thinks that Russia’s decision is not right,” Kazakhstani Foreign Ministry spokesman Erzhan Ashikbaev said, the newspaper Versia reports.
Foreign Minister Davit Bakradze welcomed Kazakhstan’s decision on April 8.
“Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan’s statements showed that despite Moscow’s influence in the CIS other member states did not follow and even condemned this,” the newspaper Rezonansi quoted Bakradze as saying.
“We thank all countries which supported the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia,” he added, according to the news agency Trend.
Two other CIS countries, Azerbaijan and Ukraine, announced that they would continue to observe the 1996 treaty despite calls from Moscow for other CIS states to follow its lead.
“Kazakhstan thinks that Russia’s decision is not right,” Kazakhstani Foreign Ministry spokesman Erzhan Ashikbaev said, the newspaper Versia reports.
Foreign Minister Davit Bakradze welcomed Kazakhstan’s decision on April 8.
“Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan’s statements showed that despite Moscow’s influence in the CIS other member states did not follow and even condemned this,” the newspaper Rezonansi quoted Bakradze as saying.
“We thank all countries which supported the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia,” he added, according to the news agency Trend.