Russia should not question Georgian, Ukrainian sovereignty - U.S. diplomat
WASHINGTON. March 20 (Interfax) - Russian should not pressurize Georgia and Ukraine and must respect their sovereignty, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried said.
Russia must admit they are independent countries and that the cultural and economic ties are the reality, Fried said in an interview with Interfax.
The U.S. is concerned by Russia's attempts to prove that these countries are not entirely sovereign and that their sovereignty is limited, he said.
Russia's opposition to these countries' sovereignty is wrong and creates tensions, he said.
The U.S. does not like Russia trying to threaten Georgia and to stop it from joining NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) or the European Union, said the high-ranking U.S. State Department official.
At the same time it would be impractical and wrong to try to stop or question the natural ties that have existed between Russia and its neighbors economically, culturally and historically, the diplomat said.
We are talking about any Russian claim to dominate over its neighbor and to force him against its will, Fried said.
Even Americans understand that Russia and Ukraine are tied by centuries-long relations, said the U.S. assistant secretary of state.
The Russian and Georgian cultures complement each other, generations of Russians were drinking Georgian wines, he said.
A Russian nobleman drank Georgian wines and then Borzhomi to cure the hangover, he joked.
The Russian and Georgian cultural relations are very deep, Fried said.
Russia must develop its ties on the basis of good neighborly human relations, he said.
Russia's constructive relations with its neighbors would be good for everyone, Fried said.