Georgian separatist spurned by U.S.

Russia criticized the United States on Tuesday for preventing the separatist foreign minister of a Moscow-backed breakaway Georgian region from addressing a U.N. Security Council meeting.

Despite repeated appeals from Russia, the U.S. made clear it would not grant a visa to Sergei Shamba if he applied for one, said Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin.

Shamba had wanted to address Tuesday's Security Council debate on whether to extend the mandate of a U.N. observer mission in Abkhazia, a Black Sea province that has been independently run since 1993, when two years of fighting with Georgian troops ended. It is one of two Georgian regions seeking independence or union with Russia.

"It was a rather serious diplomatic and political mistake not to allow Mr. Shamba to come to New York and talk to the Security Council," Churkin told reporters. "If there is to be a hope for a diplomatic settlement in this conflict you have to talk to both sides."

The United States is a strong ally of Georgia's pro-Western government, which has vowed to reassert control over Abkhazia. Russia has close ties with the separatist government, though it does not formally recognize it. Two-thirds of Abkhazia residents hold Russian passports.

Acting U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Alejandro Wolff said allowing Shamba to address the council would only have worsened tensions. He said Russia was alone in supporting Shamba's proposed appearance among the six-nation "Group of Friends" that is trying to resolve the conflict.

"The Russian proposal that Mr. Shamba come to New York is particularly provocative and does not help the situation," Wolff said.

The United States was under no obligation to grant Shamba a visa because Abkhazia separatist government is not internationally recognized.

Georgia has offered wide autonomy to Abkhazia, but Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli made clear his country would not accept their independence.

The United Nations has maintained an observer mission since 1993 to monitor the cease-fire between Georgia and Abkhazia. It now has about 400 people. A decision on whether to extend it was expected by Friday.