PARIS: The European Union says it condemns Russia's decision to recognize the independence of the breakaway Georgian territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
A statement from the rotating EU presidency calls the Russian decision "contrary to the principles of Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity".
The statement was released Tuesday by the office of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose country currently holds the EU presidency.
The statement says the 27 member union will examine the consequences of the Russian decision. It did not specify possible responses.
