Russia dismembers Georgia

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By Betsy Pisik

UNITED NATIONS | Russia on Tuesday recognized the "independence" of two breakaway Georgian regions, responding to what Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin called "a completely new reality" and expanding de facto Russian territorial control for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The announcement, two weeks after Georgia sent soldiers to one of the enclaves - South Ossetia - came at a nadir in Russian relations with the West and triggered a fresh round of condemnation from the United States, Georgia and European countries. The condemnation appeared to have little impact on Moscow.

"We are not afraid of anything, including the prospect of a Cold War," Russian President Dmitry Medvedev declared after announcing the Kremlin's decision. He also promised an unspecified military response to a U.S. missile defense system in Europe. Russia has already suspended contacts with NATO.

"The peoples of South Ossetia and Abkhazia have several times spoken out at referendums in favor of independence for their republics," Mr. Medvedev said in an address to the nation. "It is our understanding that after [the bloodshed] they have the right to decide their destiny by themselves."

In New York, Mr. Churkin said Georgia's initial use of force in South Ossetia justified the move and that Russia's embrace of the breakaway enclaves "showed so much patience."

"They have been urging us to recognize them for years," Mr. Churkin said.

How independent the enclaves will be is questionable.

While most Russian troops have withdrawn from Georgia, hundreds remain, ostensibly as peacekeepers, in what Russia calls a "zone of responsibility" between the administrative borders of Georgia and South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said it would immediately begin to negotiate "treaties of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance" with the enclaves.

Mr. Churkin denied that the action had anything to do with NATO's recognition of Kosovo, the breakaway Serbian republic whose independence Russia has opposed.