No rigid timeline for parliamentary reading on Abkhazia, S Osssetia

MINSK, 5 November (BelTA) – No timeline has been set so far for consideration of the issue of recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by Belarusian Parliament, Sergei Maskevich, chairman of the permanent commission for interregnal affairs and links with the CIS of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, told reporters on 5 November.

“We are not talking now about any specific dates. We have completed another stage of consideration of this issue,” the deputy said,

According to him, the speeding up of the process of considering requests of the parliaments of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to recognize their independence should not affect Belarus’ relations with Europe. “This is directed against no particular country,” Sergei Maskevich said.

A decision to create a working group to analyze the situation was taken on 4 November. It may take several weeks for the working group to study the situation. Sufficient foundation has been laid to further study this issue, Sergei Maskevich said.

A reminder, on 4 November the permanent commission for interregnal affairs and links with the CIS of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly took a decision to set up a parliamentary commission to study the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Belarusian parliamentarians will travel to Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia to study the situation on-site. “Georgia showed a great interest in this,” Sergei Maskevich added.