Norway denounced Syria recognition of independence of Georgia’s occupied regions

"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.