UK and Turkey Denounce Syria’s recognition of Georgia’s Occupied Territories
By Tea Mariamidze
Friday, June 1
The United Kingdom has reiterated its support towards Georgia’s sovereignty, Independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders and denounced Syria’s recent recognition of Georgia’s two, Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
UK Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan has released a statement, saying the step of Assad’s regime is “utterly unacceptable” to the UK.
The statement reads that 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 statement of Sir Alan Duncan reads.
The statement underlines that the British Government reiterates its full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and to the 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 recognized borders.
Turkey has also slammed Assad’s regime for recognizing Georgia’s breakaway regions as independent countries.
The statement was made by Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy.
“The decision of the Syria regime to recognize so-called independence of Georgia’s occupied territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and to establish diplomatic relations with them is a gross violation of international law, UN Charter and UN Security Council decisions. Our country strongly supports Georgia's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity,” the statement by the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey reads.
Syria is the fifth country which recognizes Georgia’s occupied regions as independent countries after Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru.
The step was also condemned by the European Union, NATO, US, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine.
