Brussels-Moscow/Agency Caucasus - Russia's President Vladimir Putin's decision to improve his country's relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia has put the Western bloc at unease. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the European Union (EU) and the United States of America (USA) harshly criticized Russia before they urged Putin to give up his decision.

Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Secretary General of the NATO, called on the Russian administration to call off its decision, and he stressed the NATO support for Georgia's territorial integrity. "Russia undermines the sovereignty of Georgia. We call on Russia to drop its decision and to take a moderate attitude towards Georgia."  

Sean McCormack, spokesperson for the US Department of State, said that the American administration kept supporting Georgia. "The territorial integrity of Georgia is unshakable. Russia seems to create confusion about the current situation. Doing so is a political mischief."

Javier Solana, High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy of EU, made a telephone conversation with Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili, and afterwards said that he was concerned about Russia's one-sided decisions.

Meanwhile, the details of Russia's support for both Abkhazia and South Ossetia were made clear in a statement issued on April 16 from the Russian Foreign Ministry. Putin's order to boost Russia's ties with the two 'de facto' independent countries entailed:

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                Cooperation between Russia's institutions and their counterparts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia

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                Cultural, economic, social and scientific kinds of cooperation between Russia and Abkhazia and South Ossetia

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                Recognition by Russian institutions of official papers issued by governments in Abkhazia and South Ossetia about their peoples

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                Recognition of legal assets in Abkhazia and South Ossetia

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                Provision of legal advice in fields of law on crime, family and civil code

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                Provision of consulate service by local representative offices of Russia's Foreign Ministry that exist in Krasnodar and in the Republic of North Ossetia to the peoples of  Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

In addition to these, the Foreign Ministry stated the main reason behind Russia's move as "taking into account the interests of Abkhazians and South Ossetians, including Russians who live in these two countries. "Russians who live in Abkhazia and South Ossetia will benefit broader protection of their legal rights, interests and liberties while the president's order is fulfilled." FT