International community condemns Syria recognition of Georgian occupied regions as independent states
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"Abkhazia and South Ossetia are integral parts of Georgia. The US assess the recognition of the independence of these two regions as a clear violation of Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. The US calls on Syria, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru to reverse their recognition of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states,” the US Embassy’s Chargé D’Affaires Elizabeth Rood stated today after a meeting held in Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Tbilisi-based accredited diplomats.
"According to the legislation of the US, there are consequences for the recognition of these territories as independent republics,” Rood said.
Georgia has already started procedures to break off diplomatic relations with the Syrian Arab Republic. The decision came after Syria officially recognised the independence of the occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions.
The Ambassador of France to Georgia, Pascal Meunier, also made a statement to support Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
"France strongly supports Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. This position is underlined also in the congratulation letter of President Macron on Georgian Independence Day. France always stands by this position at international conferences and meetings. The recognition of the independence of your occupied territories made by Syria means nothing for us. This step has nothing in common with the norms of international law,” Meunier stated.
Janos Herman, ambassador of the European Union to Georgia also sounded a clear message of support while speaking with the Georgian media after the meeting in the Foreign Ministry in Tbilisi.
"Syria’s decision contradicts not only the rules of international law but also the EU’s firm policy of non-recognition. The EU stands by Georgia. We always support Georgia’s territorial integrity and will continue to do so in the future,” pointed out the EU’s representative to Georgia.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia Edgars Rinktvics supported Georgia through a statement made on his official Twitter channel.
Latvia condemns illegal decision by Syria’s Assad regime to recognize independence of historic parts of #Georgia- Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia), I reiterate our continuous support to Georgia’s territorial integrity @JanelidzeMkhhttps://t.co/x8W3v78DN2
— Edgars RinkÄviÄs (@edgarsrinkevics) May 29, 2018
A statement of support was also issued by his Lithuanian colleague Linas Linkevicius.
#Lithuania condemns in strongest terms cynical violation of #Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity by the Kremlin controlled Assad regime. Full solidarity with Georgia. Those behind this yet another blatant violation of international law must face consequences. https://t.co/PZoKCRontk
— Linas Linkevicius (@LinkeviciusL) May 29, 2018
Ambassador of Germany to Georgia Heike Peitsch also spoke out in support of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders.
"Let me reassure you that we denounce the decision of the Syrian government, which contradicts international law. Germany and all our international allies support Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” stated German diplomat.
Georgia has started procedures to cut diplomatic relations with the Syrian Arab Republic, announces the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. The decision came after Syria officially recognised the independence of occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions today.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Syria has released an official statement regarding the recognition of occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions.
Georgia has strongly condemned the recent visit of Syrian lawmakers to the country’s western occupied Abkhazia region.
The United States Embassy in Georgia announced today that "the US does not recognise the results of an election conducted illegitimately in Georgian territory without the consent of the Government of Georgia, and condemns the decision to integrate the military forces of the breakaway region of South Ossetia with those of the Russian Federation”.
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.
"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.
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
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 co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the monitoring of Georgia, Kerstin Lundgren (Sweden, ALDE) and Titus Corlatean (Romania, SOC), strongly condemned the recognition by the Syrian authorities of the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
The US state department has included Syria in a list of countries that recognise the independence of occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions, therefore Syria will no longer be eligible to receive US funding, an official statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia says.
US congressman Francis Rooney has submitted a resolution to the US Congress which condemns the recognition of Georgian occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) as independent regions by Syria in May this year.