Russian ambassador to UN: Moscow's stance won't reignite Cold War

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Russia's UN ambassador said Tuesday he does not believe Russia's recognition of two separatist regions in Georgia will lead to a new Cold War, though he predicted a difficult period ahead in relations with the West. Vitaly Churkin said Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili's attack on South Ossetia created a "new reality" that negated UN resolutions guaranteeing the territorial integrity of Georgia. Moscow's announcement earlier Tuesday that it was recognizing the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia drew strong criticism from Georgia, the United States and the European Union. But Churkin said he didn't think it would revive the Cold War tension with the West. "I don't see it going that way," Churkin said. "I'm sure there's going to be a rather difficult period in our discussions."