Recognition of Abkhazia, South Ossetia not to affect Belarus-EU relations

The issue of the status of self-declared republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia is not part of the dialogue or a condition for the development of relations between Belarus and the European Union, Jose Manuel Pintu, the head of European Commission's Office in Minsk and Kiev, said at a news conference in Minsk.
The government and the people of Belarus has the right to decide whether to recognise these countries or not, he said. At the same time, the diplomat noted that the fact that Belarus "has not yet recognised South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent nations brings hope".

He also reminded that EU "has not recognized and will recognize the independence of these republics", reports Belapan.