Norway denounced Syria recognition of independence of Georgia’s occupied regions
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"Syria's decision to recognise the breakaway regions of Georgia is a violation of international law. Norway will maintain its support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity," said the State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway Audun Halvorsen.
The statement published on the official web site of Norway’s government also reads that "at a meeting at the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on 31 May, Norway and like-minded countries stated that the decision to establish diplomatic relations with the two breakaway regions was in violation of the principle of territorial integrity under international law.”
On 29 May Syria announced its intention to establish diplomatic relations with the Georgian breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Georgia has responded by starting procedures to cut diplomatic relations with the Syrian Arab Republic.
Syria is the fifth after Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Nauru which recognised the Georgian breakaway territories as independent republics in the wake of the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.
The rest of the international community is unanimous in the view that Abkhazia and South Ossetia are integral parts of Georgia.
The recognition of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) as independent countries has been raised and condemned at today’s UN Security Council meeting and at the UN General Assembly.
The European Union and European countries and leaders have strongly condemned the recognition of Georgian occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) as independent republics by the Syrian government. The official statement of the EU reads that the decision of the Syrian regime violates international law and the principle of territorial integrity
"In terms of the news [as to] why Syria has now recognised Abkhazia and South Ossetia, this isn’t a complete surprise to us simply because Bashar al-Assad is propped up by the Russian regime”, the spokesperson of the US State Department Heather Nauert said during a press briefing on May 29.
Syria’s decision will not affect the broad international understanding that South Ossetia and Abkhazia are part of Georgia, reads a statement released by NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu.
Norway is going to open an embassy in Georgia, announces the Government of Norway. At the same time, the embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan will be closed and the embassy in Ankara, Turkey will then be responsible for Norway’s relations with Azerbaijan.
Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday discussed “positive trends” in current cooperation and prospects of further strengthening ties with Anniken Huitfeldt, the foreign minister of Norway, the government administration said.