Tuvalu revokes recognition of Georgia’s breakaway regions

A small Polynesian island in the Pacific Ocean has overturned a three-year decision to no longer recognize Georgia’s two breakaway regions as independent.

The number of countries recognizing the independence of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region reduced to four after Tuvalu revoked its 2011 decision today.

Tuvalu, a Polynesian island nation located between Hawaii and Australia in the Pacific Ocean, recognized Abkhazia’s and South Ossetia’s so-called sovereignty in 2011 but revoked this decision after its official delegation paid a visit to the Georgian capital city Tbilisi.

Today, the delegation signed a protocol to establish diplomatic and consular relations with the Georgian side.

The parties agreed the states would develop relations on the grounds of the principles of sovereign equality, friendly relations and cooperation, territorial integrity, non-violation of borders and non-interference in homeland affairs.

The protocol emphasized that Tuvalu recognized the territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders, including its regions – Abkhazia’s autonomous republic and Tskhinvali region.

After signing the document, Tuvalu representatives took back its 2011 decision to recognize the breakaway regions’ independence and reconfirmed its support to Georgian sovereignty, territorial integrity and respect to the principles of international law.

The protocol was signed by Tuvalu’s Taukelina Finikaso, who is the country’s Minister of Environmental Protection, Foreign Affairs, Labour and Trade, while the document was signed by Georgia’s Foreign Minister Maya Panjikidze.

Georgia welcomed the establishment of diplomatic relations with Tuvalu and expressed hope that Tuvalu’s decision will become an example for several states that recognized Georgia’s occupied regions "through violation of fundamental principles of international law”.

Now, Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region are recognized as independent nations by four countries - Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru.