Bear course reversal

In Russian foreign policy there are two people that matter, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin himself. You do have the military general staff and the Duma, the lower house, which are very nationalistic, pan-slavic, and anti-western attack dogs, but they come in line when the two key people above make the decision. In light of this, the excerpt below from Lavrov's address to Duma is very important.

Russia's Foreign Minster Sergey Lavrov stated that Kosovo is not the model for these breakaway regions, and that if the Serbian province is granted independence it does not mean these self declared republics will follow."We admit that any decision made about Kosovo's status will set a precedent. For the first time, independence will be gained not by being a component of a former union-member state, as with the case of Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union [but by a former autonomous region], "Lavrov stated at the government hour at the Russian State Duma on March 21, Interfax news agency reported."But projection of this situation in respect to Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transdnistria will not be a correct step. I repeat there is no connection. We are not waiting impatiently for Kosovo to be separated from Serbia so that we will do the same in regard with these republics. This is not true and this would be an erroneous position," he added.

The Messenger #055 (1322) - Lavrov: Kosovo is a precedent…sort of

Lavrov's message was aimed at internal Russian and "republic" consumption. So I wouldn't be surprised if at the UN Putin continues to play the current game until he secures the concessions he wants. But things should look brighter from now on.

technorati tags:kosovo, kosova, status, russia, lavrov, caucasus