More grounds to grant ex-Soviet regions independence than Kosovo - Kokoity

INTERFAX (RUSSIAN FEDERATION), Nov 17 2006 4:19PM

MOSCOW. Nov 17 (Interfax) - The breakaway regions in three former Soviet republics have better reasons to seek independence than Kosovo, President of the breakaway republic of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity said at Friday news conference at the Interfax central office in Moscow.

"We have better political and legal reasons for recognition than Kosovo," he said, before accusing "the international community of a policy of double standards toward all four republics."

He was referring to South Ossetia, Abkhazia (both de jure part of Georgia), Transdniestria (Moldova), and the Armenian-speaking enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijan).