Bring the Phantom Republics In From the Cold

International Herald Tribune

Three months ago, the presidents of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria celebrated the creation of a new organization, the Community for Democracy and Human Rights.

“The presidents promised to democratize their governments, protect ethnic minorities and bring peace and prosperity to their countries. But no head of state greeted the new organization, because no one recognizes the existence of these countries. For the past 15 years, these phantom Eurasian states have carved out a de facto existence, with their own economies, parliaments, foreign policies and militaries. The recognized republics from which they have seceded, Georgia and Moldova, insist that they are no more than criminal networks.”