O.Morozov: “In prospect Abkhazia and South Ossetia can become full members of the Union State”

“In prospect Abkhazia and South Ossetia can become full members of the Union State,” said Oleg Morozov, First Deputy Chairman of State Duma from “Edinaya Rossiya” group, after State Duma had ratified the treaty of friendship and an association agreement among Russia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

“In prospect Abkhazia and South Ossetia can become full members of the Union State,” said Oleg Morozov, First Deputy Chairman of State Duma from “Edinaya Rossiya” group, after State Duma had ratified the treaty of friendship and an association agreement among Russia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The spokesman of the State Secretary of the Union State Ivan Makushok says that there are no insurmountable obstacles to expansion: the agreement between Russia and Belarus makes a provision for joining third and even forth parties. A corresponding appeal should be examined by the Supreme Council of the Union State. “Recently the delegations of Abkhazia and South Ossetian parliaments have been granted the status of permanent observers under the Union Parliament,” specified I.Makushok. Such issue is being considered, confirms Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia Maksim Gvindzhiya: “We are fully interested in the economic component of the union, there are a lot of advantages that we would like to make the most out of”. However, according to him, so far neither the republic’s parliament nor the society has formed the same opinion: at present Abkhazia tries to conclude as many international agreements as possible, but all of them should be equitable to the economic interest of the republic and by no means jeopardize state sovereignity.