Venezuela, Abkhazia to establish diplomatic ties

CARACAS (Itar-Tass) -- The deputy foreign ministers of Venezuela and Abkhazia, Francisco Aria-Cardenas and Maxim Gvindzhiya, met here on Monday to discuss the establishment of diplomatic relations between Venezuela and Abkhazia.

Francisco Aria-Cardenas presented a note on Venezuela’s recognition of Abkhazia’s independence to Gvindzhiya. The meeting passed in a warm and friendly atmosphere,” Gvindzhiya told Itar-Tass. He noted that an agreement on establishing diplomatic relations between Abkhazia and Venezuela would be signed in the next few days

The Abkhazian deputy foreign minister said that the decision of President Hugo Chavez to recognize the independence of Abkhazia had become “ a very vital step in global terms.”

“In fact, Venezuela’s decision contributed to establishing stability in the Caucasian region. This is something what the United States and the European Union have tried to do for many years but failed,” Mr. Gvindzhiya went on to say.

The conversation with Francisco Aria Cardenas dwelt on political and economic cooperation. Abkhazia has requested Venezuela to create a platform for lobbying the recognition of Abkhazia’s independence in Latin America.

Source: Itar-Tass