Georgia, Tuvalu establish diplomatic relations
By Jamila Babayeva
Georgia and Tuvalu established diplomatic and consular relations.
Minister for Environment, Foreign Affairs, Labour and Trade, Taukelina Finikaso and Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze signed the relevant protocol in Tbilisi on March 31, the ministry reported.
Under the Protocol the sides agree to develop inter-state relations based on the principles of sovereign equality, friendly relations and co-operation between the states, inviolability of borders and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.
The document underlines that "Tuvalu recognizes the territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders, including its regions - the autonomous republic of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia".
By signing the Protocol Tuvalu revoked its previous illegal decision of 2011 and reaffirmed its unequivocal support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as its respect for the principles of international law.
Georgia welcomed the establishment of diplomatic relations with Tuvalu.
Tbilisi expressed hope that Tuvalu's decision will set an example for a limited number of those states which have recognized the occupied regions of Georgia in violation of the fundamental principles of international law.
Georgia and Russia, its giant northern neighbor, have maintained no diplomatic relations since a brief war in 2008. Tbilisi broke off relations with Moscow in August 2008 when Moscow crushed a Georgian assault to reassert control over two rebel regions -South Ossetia and Abkhazia- and later recognized the regions. Georgia announced the two unrecognized republics as occupied territories in September 2008.