U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Russia’s decision to recognize Georgia’s two breakaway regions was “regrettable,” The Association Press reported.
“Since the United States is a permanent member of the Security Council, this simply will be dead on arrival in the Security Council,” she said.
Rice also said that the move “puts Russia in opposition to the Security Council resolution to which it is a party.”
She also suggested that the move was in violation of the six-point ceasefire agreement, which envisages opening international discussions on security and stability guarantees for Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Rice said that preempting this provision by Russia was “unfortunate.”