The summit opened with a conference at Abkhaz State University in Sukhumi addressing the international practices that would govern such recognition.
The summit will reportedly culminate with meetings on November 4-5 among the region's de facto presidents: Sergei Bagapsh of Abkhazia and Eduard Kokoity of South Ossetia, both breakaway republics of Georgia; and Igor Smirnov of Transdniester, in Moldova.
The foreign ministers of the three governments are also scheduled to meet. Apsnipress quoted Sergei Shamba, de facto foreign minister of Abkhazia, as saying the ministers will discuss "a number of issues" that have gained importance as the UN's December deadline for a settlement of Kosovo's future status approaches.
A Possible Precedent
The efforts of Serbia's breakaway province of Kosovo to gain independence are being watched closely by the leadership of the self-proclaimed republics.
Russia, which backs Serbia in firmly opposing independence for the province, has said that an independent Kosovo would create a "dangerous precedent" for resolving the status of the so-called "frozen conflicts" -- a term that groups the republics meeting this week along with Kosovo, and Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for what he described as "universal principles" to govern future negotiations on the status of separatist regions, suggesting that if the international community is prepared to recognize Kosovo, it should make similar concessions to help resolve the other frozen conflicts (see sidebar).
Moscow backs all three of the separatist republics meeting in Sukhumi in their bids for international recognition.
The Sukhumi summit is being held within the framework of the Commonwealth for Democracy and Rights of Nations -- a body founded by Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transdniester in June 2006 with the aim of gaining international recognition for their self-declared statehood.
On November 5, a second event involving Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transdniester, and Nagorno-Karabakh will open in Berlin. The two-day parliamentary hearing will be held by the Committee on the Honoring of Obligations and Commitments, made up of member states of the Council of Europe.
Universal Principles?
President Putin at a Kremlin meeting in April (epa)
PUTIN SPEAKS OUT: During a January press conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin said there is a need for "universal principles" to settle "frozen" conflicts in the CIS. His comments came against the background of impending talks on the future status of Kosovo, which many predict will grant it a form of "conditional independence" from Serbia and Montenegro. As an ally of Serbia, Moscow has consistently opposed the idea of Kosovar independence. Putin's remarks suggest he may be shifting his position, but only if the principles applied to Kosovo are also applied to frozen conflicts in the former Soviet Union. If Kosovo can be granted full independence, he asked, why should we deny the same to Abkhazia and South Ossetia? (more)
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