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ReutersMOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia sealed its recognition of two breakaway Georgian regions Friday when President Dmitry Medvedev greeted their first ambassadors to Moscow alongside new envoys from NATO members.
Russia recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states after fighting a five-day war with Georgia last August. NATO has called on Moscow to reverse the move and reaffirm the territorial integrity of Georgia, which wants to join the Western military alliance.
At Friday's Kremlin event, the envoys from the separatist regions were treated by Russia as equals with the new ambassadors from 12 nations -- including NATO members Britain and Estonia -- that do not recognize them as countries.
Medvedev, accepting the diplomats' credentials, said Russia would support both Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and other countries should now do the same.
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