Nicaragua
Signs Deal On Diplomatic Ties With
Ex-Georgian Republic
(RIA Novosti) - Nicaragua and the former
Georgian republic of Abkhazia have signed an
agreement on establishing diplomatic
relations, Nicaraguan media reported.
The Central American country recognized the
independence of Abkhazia, along with
Georgia's other breakaway republic, South
Ossetia, following Russia's example after
its conflict with Georgia in August 2008.
On Thursday, Venezuela joined Russia and
Nicaragua in recognizing Abkhazia and South
Ossetia as sovereign states, a move
condemned by Georgia, which considers the
republics part of its territory.
The El-19 news website said the agreement
was signed by Nicaraguan Foreign Minister
Samuel Santos and Abkhazian Deputy Foreign
Minister Maxim Kvindzhiya on Thursday in
Managua.
The diplomat said after the signing: "This
event is of major historical significance
for Abkhazia. Nicaragua will always be an
important friend for us, and we expect to
further develop the documents we have
signed."
Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba said on
Friday that an Abkhazian delegation will
arrive in Venezuela today to formalize
diplomatic ties.
Russian media have said that more Latin
American nations could recognize the two
republics, which have maintained de-facto
independence since bloody post-Soviet
conflicts with Georgia in the early 1990s.
Russia's ex-Soviet allies, including
Belarus, have so far refrained from
recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Georgia condemned the recognition decision
by Venezuelan "dictator" Hugo Chavez on
Thursday, describing it as influenced by a
desire to secure loans to buy more Russian
weapons.
The ex-Soviet Caucasus state, backed by the
U.S. and Europe, severed diplomatic ties
with Russia after Moscow recognized the two
regions. Russia previously repelled
Georgia's offensive on South Ossetia in a
five-day war.
|
