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26 August 2008, 11:12Georgia's Catholicos urges Russian leadership not to recognize S.Ossetia, Abkhazia's independence
Tbilisi, August 26, Interfax - Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of All Georgia has urged the Russian leadership not to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia's independence.
"For the benefit of our nations I appeal to you not to sign this decision," says Ilia II's open appeal to the Russian leadership, published in Tbilisi on Monday.
"Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region's separation from Georgia is a danger for Russia itself. It will trigger off separatism in your country and create a lot more problems for you in the future than Georgia has today. This must be given a thorough thinking," Ilia II said.
The decision on Abkhazia and South Ossetia, made by the Russian State Duma, "has no legal grounds." "Separatism is an infectious force, which destroys the foundations of the state," he said.
Ilia II also urged the Russian leadership to stop "confrontation between the two Orthodox countries."
"The blood of Ossetians, Russians and Georgians has been shed already. Further confrontation between us is impermissible," the statement says.
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