Tbilisi confident int'l community won't recognize referendum on S. Ossetia's incorporation into Russia

TBILISI. April 1 (Interfax) - The international community will not recognize the possible referendum in South Ossetia on its incorporation into the Russian Federation, Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said.

"In this situation, no referendum will be legitimized and recognized by the international community. All of this has not only political but also legal evaluations. I mean a ruling by the Strasbourg Court," Zalkaliani told journalists on Friday.

"All our partners are aware of the intention to hold a so-called referendum. We hope the international community's reaction will be firm. Initial judgments on the matter have also been voiced by the United States Department of State, and there'll be a multitude of such judgments in the near future," Zalkaliani said.