8-27-08, 9:47 am

Moscow, Aug 26 (Prensa Latina) Russian President Dmitri Medvedev defended the legality of the recognition of sovereignty of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia autonomous Caucasian regions, now rejected by Georgia.

Medvedev highlighted the link between the Russian government's decision to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia with international rights and recalled that the Serbian province of Kosovo declared its independence unilaterally in February, and western countries considered it a special case.

He said every recognition case like the singular situation of Kosovo, South Ossetia or Abjasia, is special.

Medvedev stated he did not fear a new Cold War with the western countries, but declared that he wants to avoid it.

Russian Foreign Minister Serguei Lavrov warned that Russia does not fear imposing sanctions on Georgia after his country's recognition of the independence of the separatist regions.

Lavrov also denounced the member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organizations (NATO) for starting new arms shipments to Georgia.

Georgian troops attacked South Ossetia on August 7, resulting in almost 2,100 dead people.

Georgian President Mijail Saakashvili was mistakenly informed that NATO would defend Georgia, Lavrov said.

Lavrov denounced hypocrisy and cynicism of those who are fostering the behavior of the current Georgian government.

From Prensa Latina