Russia hopes more states will recognize Abkhazia, S Ossetia - Karasin

MOSCOW (Itar-Tass) -- Russia hopes more states will recognize the independence of Caucasian republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and State Secretary Grigory Karasin said on Wednesday.

“Abkhazia’s and South Ossetia’s diplomatic efforts on the international arena are impressive,” Karasin said in an interview with Itar-Tass.

He reminded that in 2009-2010 Abkhazia’s Foreign Minister Maxim Gvindzhia visited Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Argentina, Ecuador, and Chile. In December 2009, an agreement of establishing diplomatic relations was signed with the Republic of Nauru. In April 2010, Nicaragua’ s foreign minister visited Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

In July 2010, Presidents Sergei Bagapsh of Abkhazia and Eduard Kokoity of South Ossetia paid official visits to Nicaragua and Venezuela. The visits were crowned with a whole range of bilateral agreements. Thus, the two Caucasian republics signed agreements on establishing diplomatic relations with Venezuela, agreements on political consultation mechanisms and framework cooperation agreements. The two republics signed general friendship and cooperation agreements with Nicaragua, as well as intergovernmental agreements on trade and economic cooperation, and visa-free travels. Abkhazia’s and South Ossetia’s citizens now are required no visas to stay in Nicaragua for 90 days. Moreover, Abkhazia and Nicaragua signed an agreement on air and sea communications.

“On its part, Russia seeks to help Sukhum and Tskhinval in the area of the development of international contacts. We hope that as the young states of Abkhazia and South Ossetia successfully develop, more states will recognize their independence,” Karasin summed up.