[MarMema]

SELF-DECLARED ABKHAZ PRESIDENT SERGEI BAGAPSH

"In the near future Abkhazia will appeal to the Russian parliament and the UN Security Council with a request to recognise its independence."

SOUTH OSSETIAN PRESIDENT EDUARD KOKOITY

"South Ossetia will in the near future appeal to... the UN with a request to recognise our independence."

Georgia and Russia, among other countries, how about Spain? will feel the boomerang effect of this one.

[MarMema]

In a rare show of agreement with Moscow, a senior Georgian politician voiced opposition to an independent Kosovo on Sunday.

"The Georgian leadership will never recognize Kosovo's independence," said Konstantin Gabashvili, the chairman of the country's parliament's Foreign Relations Committee.

[Tailgunner Joe]

Russia had better be careful about insisting that the "Kosovo precedent" applies to Russian backed separatitsts in Georgia. Someone might just think it applies to separatists in Russia too.

Russia's Chechen rebels hail Kosovo independence - Feb 18, 2008 - The statement, signed by Usman Ferzauli, who styles himself Chechen Foreign Minister, said Chechen rebels "have been leading an armed struggle against the world's most aggressive and militarized power for the latest 14 years".