On the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between Republic of Abkhazia and Republic of Vanuatu

MFA Abkhazia -- Governments of the Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of Vanuatu being guided by the norms of the International Law and Rights of the Nations for Self-determination as well as by the principles of the Montevideo Convention of 1933 on “Rights and Duties of the States”, have taken a decision to establish diplomatic relations.

The establishment of diplomatic relations between two countries is governed by the realities of the modern geopolitical world where mutually beneficial cooperation will be built through development of economic cultural and other relations between the peoples of Vanuatu and Abkhazia.

The Government of the Republic of Vanuatu expresses its confidence that establishment of diplomatic relations with the Republic of Abkhazia will foster the development of friendly relations between two countries and open additional possibilities for partnership in joint projects, development of two countries, cooperation on labor dissemination and exchange of modern technologies.

Relations between two countries will also become a first step in development of political cooperation and contribute into further rapprochement and enlargement of partnership in frames of the international political structures of which the two countries are the members.

The Government of the Republic of Abkhazia welcomes this important, historical decision and brave step of the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu. This will give new impetus to the development of cooperation with the countries of Pacific region. By taking this decision, despite the international pressure, Republic of Vanuatu contributed into the peace and stability in the Caucasus region.

The process of establishment of diplomatic relations was preceded with the consultations between two parties. One of the important elements of success was the fact that the International Community had recognized territorial integrity of Georgia in violation of the norms of the International Law, since at the moment of collapse of the Soviet Union, Abkhazia had no legally binding relations with Georgia.

Note: In accordance with the Soviet Union’ law adopted on 3rd April 1990 “On the procedure of the settlement of questions connected with the withdrawal of a union republic from the USSR” ”, Autonomous Republics had right to decide independently whether or not to join the secession of the Union republic in which they are situated. Abkhazia implemented the abovementioned right and participated in the referendum held on 17th of March 1991 in which the majority voted in favor of preservation of the reformed Soviet Union. At the same time Georgia did not participate in the referendum since it declared independence from the Soviet Union a month after the referendum in Abkhazia. Thus, by the time of collapse of the Soviet Union, Abkhazia was part of the USSR – not the Georgia, since Abkhazia could not be subordinate to two different entities separately and at the same time.

Sukhum 27/05/2011