Tuvalu recognizes South Ossetia as independent state

Tuvalu recognizes South Ossetia as independent state

2011-09-24 01:45:24 GMT+7 (ICT)

TSKHINVALI (BNO NEWS) -- The tiny Pacific island nation of Tuvalu on Friday officially recognized the Georgian breakaway republic of South Ossetia, a move likely to damage relationships with Georgia.

Tuvalu Prime Minister Willy Telavi and South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity signed a joint statement on Friday morning during a meeting in Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, to formalize the recognition. Kokoity praised Telavi for the move, calling it a 'courageous and decisive' step.

"Today we signed an agreement on establishing diplomatic relations between South Ossetia and the state of Tuvalu," Kokoity said following the meeting. "I'm happy about this occasion and would like to say that the international recognition of South Ossetia is irreversible."

South Ossetia, along with neighboring Abkhazia, consider themselves independent nations but were previously only recognized by Russia, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Most of the international community still considers the region part of Georgia, and Tuvalu's recognition of South Ossetia is expected to anger Georgia.

Tuvalu is an island nation located in the Pacific Ocean about midway between Hawaii and Australia. According to the most recent estimate in July, Tuvalu has a population of approximately 10,500 and is one of the smallest countries in the world.

"For the Republic of South Ossetia this means the recognition of another State," South Ossetian Foreign Minister Murat Dzhioyev said. "Tuvalu is a member of the United Nations, an equal member of the international community and to South Ossetia it does not matter whether it has a large or small state territory. The main thing is that another state has recognized the Republic of South Ossetia as an existing independent state."

Dzhioyev said it will reach out to other countries in the near future to convince them to recognize South Ossetia. "We are building a modern democratic state and we are ready today to develop friendly relations with all countries in the world," he added.

Russia recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states two weeks after a five-day war with Georgia in August 2008. Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia in an attempt to bring it back under central control after which Russia deployed its troops to protect the disputed area.

Hundreds of Russian, Georgian, South Ossetian and Abkhazian soldiers were killed during the violent conflict, as well as more than 160 civilians.

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