MOSCOW (AFP)--Leaders of three rebel ex-Soviet provinces were to meet in Moscow on Wednesday on the eve of a Russian parliament hearing where they hope to further their independence bids, Interfax news agency said.
"We will hold consultations with the presidents of Abkhazia and Transdnestr today" in Moscow, the self-declared president of Georgia's breakaway province of South Ossetia, Eduard Kokoity, was quoted by Interfax as saying.
The talks will focus on "our moves towards independence," Kokoity said.
RIA Novosti news agency reported that Sergei Bagapsh, self-declared president of another Georgian separatist province, Abkhazia, had also flown to Moscow for talks ahead of the parliamentary hearing.
Russia's lower house of parliament on Thursday will listen to appeals from Abkhazia, South Ossetia and the Moldovan rebel region of Transdnestr as part of a drive for international recognition following the example of Kosovo.
Russia has not recognized any of the ex-Soviet separatist states. Analysts said this is due to fear of separatism within Russia's own borders after the two wars in Chechnya that followed the fall of the Soviet Union.
Last week Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which operate as de facto independent entities with strong backing from Russia, called on the international community to recognize their independence, citing Kosovo as a precedent.
Officials from the Russian foreign ministry, defense ministry and economic development and trade ministry will be among those taking part in the parliamentary hearing on Thursday, Russian news agencies reported.
Russia has warned the West that recognition of Kosovo will boost separatist movements around the world and officials have pointed to the ex-Soviet breakaway provinces as a case in point.
Last week, Russia lifted trade sanctions imposed on Abkhazia in the 1990s. The move will make it easier for Russian companies to do business with Abkhazia and was immediately denounced by Georgia.
Russia's ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, has also linked claims for recognition of the two Georgian separatist states with Georgia's drive for closer ties with the Western military alliance.
"In the case of any invitation to Georgiaon the part of NATO, driven by the United States, we can expect the separation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia," Rogozin told AFP in an interview on Tuesday.
Kosovo's ethnic-Albanian majority declared independence on February 19 and has been recognized by the United States and many European Union countries. Russia has supported its ally Serbia in opposing independence for Kosovo.
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