Foreign relations of Abkhazia - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Republic of Abkhazia
Abkhazia
Abkhazia is a disputed political entity on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus.Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny...

is a self-proclaimed independent state a disputed region which is recognized

International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Abkhazia and South Ossetia are two breakaway republics in the Caucasus with disputed status over whether they are a part of Georgia or sovereign states. The Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of South Ossetia were recognised following the 2008 South Ossetia War between Russia and Georgia, by six...

by Russia

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

, Nicaragua

Nicaragua

Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...

, Venezuela

Venezuela

Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...

, Nauru

Nauru

Nauru , officially the Republic of Nauru and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country in Micronesia in the South Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Kiribati, to the east. Nauru is the world's smallest republic, covering just...

, Vanuatu

Vanuatu

Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...

, Tuvalu

Tuvalu

Tuvalu , formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls...

, Nagorno-Karabakh

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic , or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia...

, South Ossetia

South Ossetia

South Ossetia or Tskhinvali Region is a disputed region and partly recognized state in the South Caucasus, located in the territory of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast within the former Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic....

, and Transnistria

Transnistria

Transnistria is a breakaway territory located mostly on a strip of land between the Dniester River and the eastern Moldovan border to Ukraine...

. (The first six of these are members of the United Nations

United Nations

The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...

, widely recognised as sovereign states.) Abkhazia declared independence from Georgia

Georgia (country)

Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...

in 1999, but did not receive recognition from any UN member states until after the 2008 South Ossetia war

2008 South Ossetia war

The 2008 South Ossetia War or Russo-Georgian War was an armed conflict in August 2008 between Georgia on one side, and Russia and separatist governments of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on the other....

.

Currently Abkhazia is searching for more international recognition. Abkhazia enjoys excellent relations with Russia and South Ossetia at ambassadorial level.

Diplomatic relations

State	Date of diplomatic recognition	Diplomatic relations established	Notes
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic	when?
Nauru	15 December 2009	15 December 2009	On December 15, 2009, Nauru became the fourth UN member state to recognize Abkhazia.
Nicaragua	5 September 2008	10 September 2009	see Abkhazia–Nicaragua relations Abkhazia–Nicaragua relations Abkhazia–Nicaragua relations refers to bilateral foreign relations between the Republic of Abkhazia and Nicaragua. Nicaragua recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia on September 5, 2008.... On September 5, 2008, Nicaragua became the second UN member state to recognize Abkhazia.
Russia	26 August 2008	9 September 2008	see Abkhazia–Russia relations Abkhazia–Russia relations Abkhazia–Russia relations is the bilateral relationship between the Republic of Abkhazia and the Russian Federation.Russia recognised Abkhazia on 26 August 2008, following the August 2008 South Ossetia war... On August 26, 2008, Russia became the first UN member state to recognize Abkhazia.
South Ossetia	17 November 2006	26 September 2007	see Abkhazia–South Ossetia relations Abkhazia–South Ossetia relations Abkhazia – South Ossetia relations refers to bilateral foreign relations between the Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of South Ossetia, whose international status is disputed - they are both considered part of Georgia by the majority of the world's states. Abkhazia and South Ossetia recognized... Abkhazia and South Ossetia officially recognized each others independence on November 17, 2006.
Transnistria	17 November 2006		Abkhazia and Transnistria officially recognized each others independence on November 17, 2006.
Tuvalu	18 September 2011	18 September 2011	On September 18, 2011, Tuvalu became the sixth UN member state to recognize Abkhazia.
Vanuatu	23 May 2011		see Abkhazia–Vanuatu relations Abkhazia–Vanuatu relations Bilateral relation between Abkhazia and Vanuatu were established when Vanuatu recognised Abkhazia's independence on 23 May 2011. Vanuatu was the fifth UN member state do so, and the first not to also recognise South Ossetia's independence.... On May 23, 2011, Vanuatu became the fifth UN member state to recognize Abkhazia. That recognition, was withdrawn less than a month later, on June 19, following a change of government. However, on 12 July Vanuatu's new Foreign Minister reconfirmed Vanuatu's recognition of Abkhazia, although he stated that Vanuatu was still in the process of establishing diplomatic relations with Abkhazia.
Venezuela	10 September 2009	12 July 2010	see Abkhazia–Venezuela relations Abkhazia–Venezuela relations Abkhazia–Venezuela relations refers to bilateral relations between the Republic of Abkhazia and Venezuela. Venezuela recognised Abkhazia, along with South Ossetia, on 10 September 2009, almost ten years after the country declared independence from Georgia in 1999... On September 10, 2009, Venezuela became the third UN member state to recognize Abkhazia.

International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia

by Russia

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

, Nicaragua

Nicaragua

, Venezuela

Venezuela

, Nauru

Nauru

, Vanuatu

Vanuatu

, Tuvalu

Tuvalu

, Nagorno-Karabakh

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic , or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia...

, South Ossetia

South Ossetia

, and Transnistria

Transnistria

Transnistria is a breakaway territory located mostly on a strip of land between the Dniester River and the eastern Moldovan border to Ukraine...

. (The first six of these are members of the United Nations

United Nations

, widely recognised as sovereign states.) Abkhazia declared independence from Georgia

Georgia (country)

in 1999, but did not receive recognition from any UN member states until after the 2008 South Ossetia war

2008 South Ossetia war

The 2008 South Ossetia War or Russo-Georgian War was an armed conflict in August 2008 between Georgia on one side, and Russia and separatist governments of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on the other....

.

Currently Abkhazia is searching for more international recognition. Abkhazia enjoys excellent relations with Russia and South Ossetia at ambassadorial level.

Diplomatic relations

State	Date of diplomatic recognition	Diplomatic relations established	Notes
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic	when?
Nauru	15 December 2009	15 December 2009	On December 15, 2009, Nauru became the fourth UN member state to recognize Abkhazia.
Nicaragua	5 September 2008	10 September 2009	see Abkhazia–Nicaragua relations Abkhazia–Nicaragua relations Abkhazia–Nicaragua relations refers to bilateral foreign relations between the Republic of Abkhazia and Nicaragua. Nicaragua recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia on September 5, 2008.... On September 5, 2008, Nicaragua became the second UN member state to recognize Abkhazia.
Russia	26 August 2008	9 September 2008	see Abkhazia–Russia relations Abkhazia–Russia relations Abkhazia–Russia relations is the bilateral relationship between the Republic of Abkhazia and the Russian Federation.Russia recognised Abkhazia on 26 August 2008, following the August 2008 South Ossetia war... On August 26, 2008, Russia became the first UN member state to recognize Abkhazia.
South Ossetia	17 November 2006	26 September 2007	see Abkhazia–South Ossetia relations Abkhazia–South Ossetia relations Abkhazia – South Ossetia relations refers to bilateral foreign relations between the Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of South Ossetia, whose international status is disputed - they are both considered part of Georgia by the majority of the world's states. Abkhazia and South Ossetia recognized... Abkhazia and South Ossetia officially recognized each others independence on November 17, 2006.
Transnistria	17 November 2006		Abkhazia and Transnistria officially recognized each others independence on November 17, 2006.
Tuvalu	18 September 2011	18 September 2011	On September 18, 2011, Tuvalu became the sixth UN member state to recognize Abkhazia.
Vanuatu	23 May 2011		see Abkhazia–Vanuatu relations Abkhazia–Vanuatu relations Bilateral relation between Abkhazia and Vanuatu were established when Vanuatu recognised Abkhazia's independence on 23 May 2011. Vanuatu was the fifth UN member state do so, and the first not to also recognise South Ossetia's independence.... On May 23, 2011, Vanuatu became the fifth UN member state to recognize Abkhazia. That recognition, was withdrawn less than a month later, on June 19, following a change of government. However, on 12 July Vanuatu's new Foreign Minister reconfirmed Vanuatu's recognition of Abkhazia, although he stated that Vanuatu was still in the process of establishing diplomatic relations with Abkhazia.
Venezuela	10 September 2009	12 July 2010	see Abkhazia–Venezuela relations Abkhazia–Venezuela relations Abkhazia–Venezuela relations refers to bilateral relations between the Republic of Abkhazia and Venezuela. Venezuela recognised Abkhazia, along with South Ossetia, on 10 September 2009, almost ten years after the country declared independence from Georgia in 1999... On September 10, 2009, Venezuela became the third UN member state to recognize Abkhazia.

International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia

by Russia

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

, Nicaragua

Nicaragua

, Venezuela

Venezuela

, Nauru

Nauru

, Vanuatu

Vanuatu

, Tuvalu

Tuvalu

, Nagorno-Karabakh

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic , or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia...

, South Ossetia

South Ossetia

, and Transnistria

Transnistria

Transnistria is a breakaway territory located mostly on a strip of land between the Dniester River and the eastern Moldovan border to Ukraine...

. (The first six of these are members of the United Nations

United Nations

, widely recognised as sovereign states.) Abkhazia declared independence from Georgia

Georgia (country)

in 1999, but did not receive recognition from any UN member states until after the 2008 South Ossetia war

2008 South Ossetia war

The 2008 South Ossetia War or Russo-Georgian War was an armed conflict in August 2008 between Georgia on one side, and Russia and separatist governments of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on the other....

.

Currently Abkhazia is searching for more international recognition. Abkhazia enjoys excellent relations with Russia and South Ossetia at ambassadorial level.

Diplomatic relations

State	Date of diplomatic recognition	Diplomatic relations established	Notes
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic	when?
Nauru	15 December 2009	15 December 2009	On December 15, 2009, Nauru became the fourth UN member state to recognize Abkhazia.
Nicaragua	5 September 2008	10 September 2009	see Abkhazia–Nicaragua relations Abkhazia–Nicaragua relations Abkhazia–Nicaragua relations refers to bilateral foreign relations between the Republic of Abkhazia and Nicaragua. Nicaragua recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia on September 5, 2008.... On September 5, 2008, Nicaragua became the second UN member state to recognize Abkhazia.
Russia	26 August 2008	9 September 2008	see Abkhazia–Russia relations Abkhazia–Russia relations Abkhazia–Russia relations is the bilateral relationship between the Republic of Abkhazia and the Russian Federation.Russia recognised Abkhazia on 26 August 2008, following the August 2008 South Ossetia war... On August 26, 2008, Russia became the first UN member state to recognize Abkhazia.
South Ossetia	17 November 2006	26 September 2007	see Abkhazia–South Ossetia relations Abkhazia–South Ossetia relations Abkhazia – South Ossetia relations refers to bilateral foreign relations between the Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of South Ossetia, whose international status is disputed - they are both considered part of Georgia by the majority of the world's states. Abkhazia and South Ossetia recognized... Abkhazia and South Ossetia officially recognized each others independence on November 17, 2006.
Transnistria	17 November 2006		Abkhazia and Transnistria officially recognized each others independence on November 17, 2006.
Tuvalu	18 September 2011	18 September 2011	On September 18, 2011, Tuvalu became the sixth UN member state to recognize Abkhazia.
Vanuatu	23 May 2011		see Abkhazia–Vanuatu relations Abkhazia–Vanuatu relations Bilateral relation between Abkhazia and Vanuatu were established when Vanuatu recognised Abkhazia's independence on 23 May 2011. Vanuatu was the fifth UN member state do so, and the first not to also recognise South Ossetia's independence.... On May 23, 2011, Vanuatu became the fifth UN member state to recognize Abkhazia. That recognition, was withdrawn less than a month later, on June 19, following a change of government. However, on 12 July Vanuatu's new Foreign Minister reconfirmed Vanuatu's recognition of Abkhazia, although he stated that Vanuatu was still in the process of establishing diplomatic relations with Abkhazia.
Venezuela	10 September 2009	12 July 2010	see Abkhazia–Venezuela relations Abkhazia–Venezuela relations Abkhazia–Venezuela relations refers to bilateral relations between the Republic of Abkhazia and Venezuela. Venezuela recognised Abkhazia, along with South Ossetia, on 10 September 2009, almost ten years after the country declared independence from Georgia in 1999... On September 10, 2009, Venezuela became the third UN member state to recognize Abkhazia.

Visa Problems

Several states which do not recognise Abkhazia routinely refuse visa applications of Abkhazians, even though the application is made in Moscow on the basis of the person's dual Russian citizenship.

In October 2006 the American embassy denied a visa to Minister for Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia Sergei Shamba, who was to attend a UN Security Council discussion in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

on the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia
United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia
The United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia was established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 858 in August 1993 to verify compliance with a 27 July 1993 ceasefire agreement between the Republic of Georgia and forces in Abkhazia with special attention given to the situation in the...

.
In February 2009 the Indian embassy denied visas to two Abkhazian women employed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who had been invited by the Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University, also known as JNU, is located in New Delhi, the capital of India. It is mainly a research oriented postgraduate University with approximately 5,500 students and a faculty strength of around 550.-History:...

to attend an international conference. In response, Foreign Minister Shamba sent letters to Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee
Pranab Mukherjee
Pranab Kumar Mukherjee is the current Finance Minister of India and leader of the current Lok Sabha.Mukherjee is a senior member of the Cabinet Committees on Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Parliamentary Affairs, Political Affairs, Prices, Security, Unique Identification Authority of India,...

and to the Ambassador of India to Russia
Ambassador of India to Russia
The following people have served as Ambassadors of India to Russia and it predecessor state, the Soviet Union:*Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit *Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan *Kumara Padma Sivasankara Menon *S. Dutt...

, Prabhat Prakash Shukla
Prabhat Prakash Shukla
Prabhat Prakash Shukla is the Ambassador of India to Russia. Before taking up the post in Moscow on 2 October 2007, Shukla was the High Commissioner of India to Australia, and prior to that was the Indian High Commissioner to Singapore. He joined the Indian Foreign Service on July 11, 1974...

. The letters protested the very unfriendly attitude towards Abkhazia, pointed out that the applicants’ Russian citizenship had not been taken into account and warned that Abkhazia might respond in kind, denying visas to any future Indian visitors.
On 17 March the Spanish embassy in Moscow refused visas for the members of the Abkhazian Futsal
Futsal
Futsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón , which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football"...

team, which was to take part in the first Copa de les Nacions de Futsal in Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...

.
On 13 May 2009, the German embassy in Russia initially denied a visa for a sick Abkhazian 16-year old boy who was to have undergone a complicated operation in a Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...

clinic. Foreign Minister of Abkhazia Sergei Shamba said "such actions are out of line with universal humanitarian principles and are a direct violation of Abkhazian residents' rights." However, the next day the German embassy in Moscow issued the visa, stating that the delay was due to the need to coordinate with their consulate in Tbilisi, which normally handles visas.

Relations with other self-declared independent states

The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic

Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic

The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is a partially recognised state that claims sovereignty over the entire territory of Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony. SADR was proclaimed by the Polisario Front on February 27, 1976, in Bir Lehlu, Western Sahara. The SADR government controls about...

, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Northern Cyprus or North Cyprus , officially the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus , is a self-declared state that comprises the northeastern part of the island of Cyprus...

welcomed Russian recognition of Abkhazia. The militant Palestinian organization Hamas

Hamas

Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...

also welcomed the recognition of both Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Membership in international organizations

Abkhazia does not belong to any international organizations as of March 2009 besides the Community for Democracy and Human Rights

Community for Democracy and Human Rights

The Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations , also commonly known as Commonwealth of Unrecognized States, or rarely as CIS-2 is an international organisation uniting several states in the former Soviet Union, all of whom have limited recognition from the international community.-History:The...

External links

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia web site

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.

Diplomatic relations

Diplomatic relations

Diplomatic relations

Visa Problems

Relations with other self-declared independent states

Membership in international organizations

See also

External links