TBILISI (Reuters) - Georgia said on Tuesday it had started procedures to sever diplomatic relations with Syria after Damascus recognized its breakaway regions as independent states, a move Tbilisi dubbed manipulation from Russia.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke away from Georgia in wars in the early 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Georgia and Russia fought a short war over South Ossetia and Abkhazia in August 2008. After it ended, Moscow, whose forces triumphed, recognized both regions as independent countries. The move was followed by Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru.

Georgia, backed by the United States and European Union, said the Russian operation was a naked land grab.

Georgia’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that recognition of its breakaway regions by Syria was an illegal move and disregarded international law.

“With this act the Assad regime declared its support for Russia’s military aggression against Georgia, the illegal occupation of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions (South Ossetia) and the ethnic cleansing that has been taking place for years,” the ministry said in a statement.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia calls on the international community to duly assess the illegal decision of the Assad regime made as a result of manipulation by the Russian Federation and to undertake the relevant steps in response.”</s>Georgia says it will sever diplomatic relations with Syria over its decision to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent countries, Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister David Dondua said on Tuesday.

The same day, a statement on the website of the self-declared South Ossetian Foreign Ministry said the northern Georgian region and Syria had “established diplomatic relations.”

The Syrian news agency SANA also reported that Damascus had agreed to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia “in appreciation of the supportive positions [they made] toward the terrorist aggression against Syria.”

Earlier in the day, Syria recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and decided to establish the diplomatic relations with the republics.

Abkhaz President Raul Khajimba said Abkhazia and Syria “agreed on the mutual recognition and establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries through embassies, which reflects their common [desire] to develop relations in all areas.”

“Georgia has launched the procedure to suspend diplomatic ties with Syria. I would like to note that the international community firmly supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia and the policy of non-recognition of the occupied territories,” Dondua told a briefing.

Both Abkhazia and South Ossetia declared independence from Georgia in the early 1990s and were recognized by Russia in the aftermath of the 2008 conflict between Tbilisi and Moscow. Georgia still considers the republics as part of its territory.

Venezuela, Nicaragua, and the Pacific island of Nauru have also recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Donate Gift €20 or more and we'll send you our super awesome mug absolutely FREE! Your donations allow us to hire more writers and broaden our reach to those seeking the truth. Will you help expose the lies of the mainstream media? As a reader of The Duran, you are well aware of all the propaganda and disinformation reported by the mainstream media. You know how important it is to bring real news to light. Please support The Duran and help us keep reporting on news that is fair, balanced, and real.</s>Georgia says it will sever diplomatic relations with Syria over its decision to recognize the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent countries.

Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze said in a tweet on May 29 that "recognition of [the] independence of [the] historic regions of Georgia, Abkhazia and Tskhinvali [South Ossetia], by [the] Russian-manipulated [Bashar al-]Assad regime in Syria is another blatant violation of [international] law by Assad and should be condemned by the [international] community."

The Georgian Foreign Ministry said in a statement the same day that it had begun procedures to cut relations with Damascus.

The Georgian response came shortly after a separatist official in Abkhazia and an entity in South Ossetia announced Syria's recognition of independence.

A document on the website of de facto Abkhaz President Raul Khajimba said Abkhazia and Syria "agreed on the mutual recognition and establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries through embassies, which reflects their common [desire] to develop relations in all areas."

The same day, a statement on the website of the self-declared South Ossetian Foreign Ministry said the northern Georgian region and Syria had "established diplomatic relations."

The Syrian state news agency SANA also reported that Damascus had agreed to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia "in appreciation of the supportive positions [they made] toward the terrorist aggression against Syria."

South Ossetia and Abkhazia are Russian-backed separatist regions that have declared independence from Georgia. Russia recognized the regions as independent states following a short war with Tbilisi in August 2008.

There are Russian troops and bases in the two regions.

Venezuela, Nicaragua, and the Pacific island of Nauru have also recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Khajimba's statement said a meeting between the "ambassadors" of Abkhazia, Syria, and South Ossetia had met in Russia on May 28 and "exchanged the relevant notes."

It added that Abkhaz and Syrian officials had recently made "reciprocal trips" and that "close contacts were established."

Khajimba added that people in Abkhazia "highly value" Syria's recognition.

With reporting by Interfax and TASS</s>"The Republic of Abkhazia and the Syrian Arab Republic declare mutual recognition and establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries at the level of embassies, which reflects their mutual desire to develop relations in all areas," the ministry's statement read.

South Ossetia's Foreign Ministry, also on Tuesday released a statement, announcing that Syria and South Ossetia had also declared mutual recognition and agreed to establish diplomatic relations at the level of embassies, "seeking comprehensive political, economic and cultural cooperation and interaction between the two countries for the benefit of their people."

"Georgia has launched the procedure to suspend diplomatic ties with Syria. I would like to note that the international community firmly supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia and the policy of non-recognition of the occupied territories," Dondua told a briefing.

Syria became the fifth countriy to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, following the example of Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru.

South Ossetia declared independence after a military offensive by Georgian troops in August 2008, launched in order to regain control of the region, partially destroyed its capital. After five days of hostilities, Russia managed to expel Georgian troops from the breakaway region, with Moscow later recognizing the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.</s>Syria has recognized independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and has announced a decision to set up Embassy-level diplomatic relations with the two self-proclaimed states.

“The Republic of South Ossetia and the Syrian Arab Republic declare mutual recognition and the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries at the level of embassies from the date this communique is published,” theSouth Ossetian Foreign Ministry commented on the issue in a statement on its website. The statement added that both countries are seeking “to establish and develop full-scale political, economic and cultural cooperation.”

Earlier, the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia were recognized by Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru and Russia.

Both South Ossetia and Abkhazia are former regions of Georgia, which have separated from the country as a result of local conflicts triggered by ethnic tensions.

In reply to the Syrian move, Georgia has launched a procedure for suspending diplomatic ties with Syria, the country’s Deputy Foreign Minister David Dondua said.

“Georgia has launched the procedure to suspend diplomatic ties with Syria. I would like to note that the international community firmly supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia and the policy of non-recognition of the occupied territories,” Dondua said during a press briefing.</s>Syrian has reached agreements with Abkhazia and South Ossetia on mutual recognition and establishment of diplomatic relations.

“The Republic of South Ossetia and the Syrian Arab Republic declare mutual recognition and the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries at the level of embassies from the date this communique is published,” reads a communique on the website of the Ossetian Foreign Ministry.

Both countries are seeking “to establish and develop full-scale political, economic and cultural cooperation,” the communique says.”

On May 29, 2018, the Republic of Abkhazia and the Syrian Arab Republic (SAR) agreed on the mutual recognition and establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries through embassies, which reflects their common strive to develop relations in all areas,” Abkhaz President Raul Hajimba said in a statement released on his official website on Tuesday.

“We highly value this step made by the government of the Syrian Arab Republic and are confident that our relations will be developing in the spirit of mutual confidence and cooperation,” Hajimba stated.

Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Nauru were the only nations to have recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia so far.</s>It is utterly unacceptable that the Asad regime has recognised the so-called “independence” of the breakaway Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The Russian military intervention in Georgia in 2008 and its subsequent recognition of the breakaway territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as so-called “independent states” was an unacceptable violation of the sovereign rights of Georgia. Russia’s actions continue to undermine Georgia’s rightful territorial integrity.

This move will do nothing to bring peace closer. Once again, both the Syrian regime and Russia are aggressively trying to undermine the rules-based international order.

The British Government reiterates its full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and to UN Security Council Resolution 1808 which reaffirms the commitment of all Member States to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.</s>"The decision of the Syrian regime to establish diplomatic relations with the Georgian breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia violates international law and the principle of territorial integrity as defined by the United Nations Charter and relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The European Union fully supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders," the statement reads.

Earlier in the day, Syria recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and decided to establish diplomatic relations with the republics.

Georgia has launched the procedure of suspending diplomatic ties with Syria in response to this move.

Apart from Syria, South Ossetia has been recognized by five UN member states (Nauru, Nicaragua, Russia, Tuvalu, and Venezuela), though Tuvalu withdrew its recognition of the republic in 2014. Abkhazia’s independence has been recognized by six UN member states (Nauru, Nicaragua, Russia, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Venezuela), apart from Syria. Tuvalu and Vanuatu, however, subsequently withdrew their recognition.</s>The United States on Wednesday condemned Syria's decision to recognize two breakaway regions in Georgia and create diplomatic ties, saying it fully backed Georgia's independence and reiterating its call for Russia to withdraw from the area.

"The United States strongly condemns the Syrian regime's intention to establish diplomatic relations with the Russian-occupied Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia," U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

"These regions are part of Georgia. The United States' position on Abkhazia and South Ossetia is unwavering," the statement said.

The U.S. statement came one day after Georgia said it would sever diplomatic relations with Syria after Damascus moved to recognize the two regions as independent states.

Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru previously recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, both of which broke away from Georgia following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Following that fight in the early 1990s, Georgia and Russia fought a war over the regions in August 2008.

The United States and European Union have backed Georgia in calling the Russian operation a naked land grab.

Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pledged deeper security and economic support for Georgia. He also called on Russia to withdraw its forces from Abkhazia and South Ossetia under the ceasefire agreement that followed the 2008 war. The department echoed that request on Wednesday.

"We fully support Georgia's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, and call on all states to ... do the same," Nauert said.</s>The United States has condemned Syria's decision to recognize the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent countries.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement that the United States “strongly condemns the Syrian regime’s intention to establish diplomatic relations with the Russian-occupied Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia."

"These regions are part of Georgia,” she added. “The United States’ position on Abkhazia and South Ossetia is unwavering."

Nauert also reiterated U.S. calls on Russia to withdraw its forces to the positions they were holding before a short war between Russia and Georgia in August 2008.

The statement comes a day after Georgia says it will sever diplomatic relations with Syria over Damascus’s decision to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent countries.

The European Union also condemned the Syrian move, saying it "violates international law."

South Ossetia and Abkhazia are Russia-backed separatist regions that have declared independence from Georgia. Russia recognized the regions as independent states following a five-day war with Georgia in 2008.

There are Russian troops and bases in the two regions.

Venezuela, Nicaragua, and the Pacific island of Nauru have also recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Syria recognizes the disputed territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states which in turn prompts Georgia to sever its relations with Syria.