Syria, Breakaway S. Ossetia Establish Diplomatic Ties

Foreign Minister of Syria, Walid Mohi Edine al Muallem, and the so called Foreign Minister of Georgia’s Russian-occupied region of South Ossetia, Dimitry Medoev, have signed an ‘agreement’ on establishing diplomatic relations.

As Syrian state-led news agency Sana reports, during the meeting Walid Mohi Edine al Muallem and Medoev discussed the issues of deepening relations in all spheres and signed several agreements.

The Syrian state media reports that the occupied Tskhinvali representative once again thanked Syria for the recognition of breakaway South Ossetia as an independent state.

De facto Foreign Ministry of breakaway S. Ossetia also reported the ‘agreement’ signed with Syria, noting that the meeting of the sides was held in preparation for the official visit of de facto President Anatoly Bibilov to the Syrian Arab Republic.

"During the conversation, the parties discussed a wide range of issues related to the development of bilateral relations, promising areas of cooperation, as well as the situation in the region,” de facto South Ossetian media reports.

As reported, Medoev said “South Ossetia fully supports the just struggle of the people of Syria against the forces of international terrorism, as well as the joint actions of the Russian Federation and the legitimate Syrian government in this direction.”

Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) stated the so called agreement on establishing diplomatic relations between Syrian and occupied Tskhinvali representatives has no legal power.

“The Assad regime itself is declared illegitimate by the international community. It should be noted that the international community strongly condemned the so-called recognition of occupied S. Ossetia by Syria. This action was also condemned by the Syrian opposition forces. After Syria’s recognition of breakaway Tskhinvali as an independent state, Georgia cut diplomatic relations with Syria,” the statement of the MFA reads.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Syria released an official statement saying they recognized Georgia’s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent countries on May 29.

Syria’s step was denounced by the whole international community except Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Nauru.

By Thea Morrison