Russia said "a fierce resistance" was underway from Tbilisi and the West in an attempt to stop international recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and countries willing to recognize the two breakaway regions were subject to "unprecedented external pressure".
"The process of strengthening foreign policy positions of Sukhum and Tskhinval, including through establishment of official relations with foreign states, is met with fierce resistance from Tbilisi and those western states, which support revanchist plans [of Tbilisi] to ‘reintegrate’ Abkhazia and South Ossetia," the Russian Foreign Ministry said on April 15.
"The states, showing unbiased approach to the realities in the Caucasus, are being subject to unprecedented external pressure. Tough démarches (including on highest level), warnings about ‘political consequences’, threats to suspend humanitarian and economic assistance are applied," it said.
It also said that despite of these efforts, "no one will be able to stop" Abkhazia’s "entry to the world community" and Moscow would be providing Sokhumi all the necessary assistance on the international arena.
The statement was made in connection to a three-day "official visit" of breakaway Abkhazia’s Foreign Minister,
Vyacheslav Chirikba, to Moscow, which started on April 16.
The Russian MFA said that five other countries followed Moscow’s suit in recognition of Abkhazia – Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru, Vanuatu and Tuvalu.
Among these countries Russia also lists Vanuatu; there has been much uncertainty about recognition of Abkhazia by this small island state in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean. Vanuatu recognized Abkhazia in May, 2011, but retracted its recognition shortly after change of government in early June; but then one local official reportedly reaffirmed the recognition. However, in late June Vanuatu, was among those nations who voted in favor of Georgia-sponsored and Russian-opposed resolution in the UN General Assembly reaffirming right of IDPs to return to Abkhazia and South Ossetia. But the statement reaffirming recognition of Abkhazia is still posted on the homepage of Vanuatu government’s website.
The Russian MFA said that further deepening of ties with Sokhumi would be discussed during talks with the visiting Abkhaz foreign minister.It said that Russia was "a guarantor of existence of [Abkhazia] as an independent state" and security cooperation was high on the agenda in ties between Moscow and Sokhumi, because of "continued revanchist stance in Tbilisi".