A new government of the Republic of Vanuatu “cancels a decision, which the previous authorities have taken to recognize the Republic of Abkhazia,” the director of the Georgian Foreign Ministry department for Asia, Africa and the Oceania Zurab Aleksidze told reporters on Friday June 17. He noted that the Georgian Foreign Ministry received an official document signed by a new Vanuatu prime minister, which particularly noted that “a new Vanuatu government revokes and cancels a decision, which the previous government has taken to recognize the Republic of Abkhazia and states about the support for Georgia’s territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders of the country.”

Meanwhile, on May 31, Abkhazian Foreign Minister Maxim Gvindzhia stated that the Republic of Vanuatu established diplomatic relations with Abkhazia. Gvindzhia said in an interview with the Russia Today (RT) television channel, “We are very glad that we succeeded to have the Republic of Vanuatu recognize our republic,” Itar-Tass quoted him as saying.