러시아의 블라디미르 푸틴 총리는 20일 그루지야의 남오세티야 자치주와 압하지야 자치공화국에 주둔할 러시아군의 규모는 남오세티야와 압하지야가 독자적으로 결정할 사항이라고 말했습니다.
이같은 결정은 국제법과 더불어 러시아와 이들 지역간 합의에 따라 내려질 것이라고 러시아 통신사들이 이날 푸틴 총리의 말을 인용보도했습니다.
러시아는 서방권의 강력한 반대에도 불구하고 남오세티야와 압하지야를 독립국가로 인정하고 두 지역과 외교관계를 맺었습니다.
러시아는 지난 달 그루지야가 분리 독립을 주장하던 남오세티야를 공격한데 따라 그루지야에 러시아 병력과 탱크를 보내 국제적 비난을 받았습니다.
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Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says it is up to
Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia to decide how many
Russian troops can stay in their territories.
Russian new agencies today (Saturday)quote the prime minister as saying
the decision will be made based on international law and agreements between
Russia and the regions, which Mr. Putin defined as "countries."
Despite strong protests from the West, Russia has formally recognized both
breakaway territories as independent states, and has established diplomatic
ties with them.
Russia faced international condemnation for sending troops and tanks into
Georgia last month, after Georgia tried to retake control of the separatist
region of South Ossetia.
Western countries have called on Russia to withdraw nearly all its forces from
Georgia under a French-brokered cease-fire agreement.
Russia has withdrawn troops from some regions around South Ossetia and
Abkhazia, but Moscow has said it will indefinitely station 76-hundred troops
inside those territories.