Four More States Denounce Syria’s Recognition of Abkhazia, S. Ossetia

Italy, Slovenia, Spain and Turkey have joined in the countries condemning Syria’s recognition of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia as independent states.

On May 30, Italian Foreign Ministry underscored that the country “fully subscribes” to the European Union’s statement and that Italy reiterated its support to the territorial integrity of Georgia.

Slovenian Foreign Ministry also emphasized “its strong support” for sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders and underscored that it “will continue to do so in the future.”

Spain “deeply regrets the Syrian recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia” and considers both regions an integral part of Georgia.

“We would like to reiterate our full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia,” the Foreign Ministry of Spain highlighted.

Spokesperson of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Hami Aksoy, called Syria’s recognition of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region “a clear violation of international law, the United Nations Charter and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.”

“Our country, as emphasized in various occasions, supports the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Georgia,” Aksoy underscored.

The United States Department of State once again condemned “the Syrian regime’s intention to establish diplomatic relations with the Russian-occupied Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia” in its official statement on May 30.

U.S. State Department’s Spokesperson Heather Nauert said “these regions are part of Georgia,” and that the U.S. “position on Abkhazia and South Ossetia is unwavering.”

“We fully support Georgia’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, and call on all states to be mindful of their obligations under the UN Charter and do the same. And once again, the United States urges Russia to withdraw its forces to pre-war positions per the 2008 ceasefire agreement,” the statement reads.

Joseph Daul, the member of the European Parliament and the President of the European People’s Party (EPP) also “strongly” condemned “the establishment of diplomatic relations of the Russian backed Syrian regime with the Georgian breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia violating international law.” Daul said EPP fully supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia.

“Syria, now in part, a vassal State of Russia, recognizes illegally occupied South Ossetia and Abkhazia – time for UN & EU to revisit Russian aggression beyond Ukraine,” Mark Pritchard, the member of the parliament for the Wrekin, United Kingdom, stated.

Syria’s recognition of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region on May 29 were denounced by Tbilisi and the international community, including the United States, the European Union, and NATO.