Abkhazia–Vanuatu relations

Abkhazia–Vanuatu relations

Abkhazia
Vanuatu

Bilateral relations between Abkhazia and Vanuatu were begun when Vanuatu recognised Abkhazia's independence on 23 May 2011. On that day a joint statement on establishment of diplomatic relations was signed.[1][2] However, the exact nature of the recognition was a matter of dispute and was not regularized until July 2013.

Vanuatu was the fifth UN member state to recognize Abkhazia and the first not to also recognise South Ossetia's independence.

History

Initial establishment of relations (May 2011)

On 23 May 2011, President of the People’s movements Nagriamel and John Frum, Paramount Chief Te Moli Venaos Mol Saken Goiset issued a statement of recognition to the People of Abkhazia.[3] A week later, the Government of Vanuatu offered its condolences to Abkhazia over the passing of President Sergei Bagapsh. Vanuatu assured the Government of Abkhazia that the foundations laid by the late President in establishing political and economic relations between the states would continue to prosper.[4] The same day, in an interview with Russia Today Maxim Gvinjia, the Abkhaz Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced that Vanuatu had recognised Abkhazia's independence and that diplomatic relations had been established.[5][6][7] The diplomatic agreement had been signed on 23 May 2011 by Prime Ministers of Abkhazia Sergey Shamba and of Vanuatu Sato Kilman, and also established a visa-free travel regime between the two countries.[1][2][8][9] According to Gvinjia, the document had been exchanged by air, and had been negotiated in secret over a period of several months.[10]

Despite an initial denial on 3 June by Vanuatu's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Donald Kalpokas,[11] Vanuatu's recognition of Abkhazia was confirmed by its government on 7 June[12] and a copy of the agreement was released.[1][2]

Attempted withdrawal of recognition by Natapei (June 2011) and subsequent reconfirmation

On 16 June, Chief Justice Vincent Lunabek of Vanuatu ruled that since Sato Kilman's December 2010 election as Prime Minister had not occurred through secret ballot, it had violated article 41 of the constitution, and he re-instated Edward Natapei as interim Prime Minister.[13][14] On 19 June, Natapei announced that he was withdrawing Vanuatu's recognition for Abkhazia, and that he would seek to establish relations with Georgia.[15][16][17][18] However, a week later Sato Kilman was re-elected as Prime Minister,[19] and in a note dated 1 July 2011, Vanuatu Foreign Minister Alfred Carlot informed the government of Abkhazia that the Cabinet of Vanuatu had "voted in favour of supporting the Republic of Abkhazia in establishing diplomatic and financial ties". The note also reiterated that the original memorandum signed on 23 May by the Prime Ministers of both countries "remained in force despite earlier announcement".[20] Vanuatu's recognition of Abkhazia was again confirmed on 12 July by Carlot, expressing Vanuatu's "desire to establish diplomatic relations with Abkhazia", and on 7 October by Vanuatu's government.[21][22]

Exchanges between Abkhazia and Vanuatu

Te Moli Venaos Mol Saken (Thi Tam) Goiset, one of the strongest proponents of Vanuatu recognition of Abkhaz independence was appointed Ambassador of Vanuatu for Abkhazia and other countries, including Russia.[23]

On 12 July 2011 the Ambassador of Abkhazia in the Asia-Pacific region, Juris Gulbis, stated that Abkhazia and Vanuatu plan to sign a framework agreement on cooperation in the field of culture, trade and the banking sector. According to him, the Government of Vanuatu twice confirmed the establishment of diplomatic relations with Abkhazia and of their intention to contribute to the development of friendly ties between the two States.[24]

On 30 July 2011, the Abkhaz Minister of Foreign Affairs, sent a congratulatory note on the occasion of the Independence Day celebration in Vanuatu, reading "I would especially like to note a positive trend that emerged in the relations between our countries. I hope that our relationship will continue to grow stronger and develop in the same beneficial way."

On 28 September 2011, Te Moli Venaos Mol Saken Goiset, Ambassador designate to Abkhazia from Vanuatu, congratulated the new Abkhaz President Alexander Ankvab on his inauguration.[25]

In January 2012 it was reported that Abkhazia planned to export wine to Vanuatu.[26]

Establishment of diplomatic relations with Georgia under Carcasses (2013)

On 18 March 2013, Johnny Koanapo, Vanuatu Director-General of Foreign Affairs, stated that diplomatic relations had never been established with Abkhazia. He said that "There’s been a confusion over what the government had intended to do which was just simply a letter stating that there might be an intention to establish relations with Abkhazia. But at this point in time, there’s no action on that and there’s no decision".[27][28][29] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia responded with a statement claiming that they had "not received any official notification of the severance of diplomatic relations between the two countries" and that the "recognition of the Republic of Abkhazia is irreversible".[30][31]

On 20 May 2013, Georgia claimed that Moana Carcasses Kalosil, Vanuatu's new Prime Minister, had confirmed that Vanuatu had withdrawn its recognition of Abkhazia.[32][33][34] However, the next day Abkhazia's Deputy Foreign Minister Irakli Khintba responded by saying that no decision to cancel diplomatic relations between Abkhazia and Vanuatu had been taken, and that Kalosil's statements were only his personal point of view which was not the result of an official decision by the government.[35][36]

On July 12, 2013 Georgia and Vanuatu signed an agreement on establishing diplomatic and consular relations. The agreement, which was signed at the United Nations headquarters, stated: "the Republic of Vanuatu recognizes territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders, including its regions - the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia." [37] The Foreign Minister of Abkhazia, Viacheslav Chirikba, responded by claiming that Vanuatu had not officially withdrawn its recognition of Abkhazia.[38]

Renewed confirmation of recognition (2015)

On 30 March 2015, during a visit by Vanuatu Foreign Minister Sato Kilman to Moscow to discuss aid following Cyclone Pam, he met with his Abkhazian counterpart Viacheslav Chirikba. The two officials expressed their desire to strengthen bilateral relations, and Chirikba expressed his condolences and offered Abkhazia's assistance with disaster relief.[39] On 31 March, Kilman declared in an interview with RIA Novosti that "nothing had changed" in respect to Vanuatu's 2011 recognition of Abkhazia, but that the Carcasses government had merely decided to pursue diplomatic relations with Georgia rather than Abkhazia, that he didn't consider diplomatic relations with Abkhazia and Georgia to be incompatible, and that he hoped diplomatic relations with Abkhazia would soon be formalised.[40]

International agreements

Ambassadors

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Верительное факсимиле". Kommersant (in Russian). 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Joint Statement On Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of Vanuatu". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Abkhazia). 2013-03-22. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  3. ↑ "People's Movements Nagriamel and John Frum (Vanuatu) issue recognition to the people of Abkhazia". Abkhaz World. 2013-06-07. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  4. ↑ "Vanuatu offers condolences to Abkhazia over passing of president Bagapsh". Abkhaz World.
  5. ↑ "Vanuatu recognizes Abkhazia independence - Abkhaz ministry". Moscow. RIA Novosti. 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
  6. ↑ "On the establishment of diplomatic relations between Republic of Abkhazia and Republic of Vanuatu". Sukhum: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Abkhazia). 2011-05-27. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
  7. ↑ "Независимость Абхазии признали острова Вануату" (in Russian). BBC Russian. 2011-05-31. Archived from the original on 2011-06-05. Retrieved 2011-06-04.
  8. ↑ "Abkhazia & Pacific". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Abkhazia). Retrieved 2011-06-01.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Visa-free regime is launched between the Republic of Vanuatu and the Republic of Abkhazia.". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Abkhazia). 2011-05-31. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2011-06-04.
  10. ↑ Mamanov, Roman (2011-06-04). "Vanuatu-Abkhazia: recognition via air". Voice of Russia. Archived from the original on 2011-06-05. Retrieved 2011-06-04.
  11. ↑ Barry, Ellen (2011-06-03). "Vanuatu Recognizes Abkhazia. Or Maybe Not.". New York Times. p. A4. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2011-06-04.
  12. ↑ "Vanuatu government confirms recognition of Abkhazia". Radio New Zealand International. 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  13. ↑ "Vanuatu Court rules Kilman election void, reinstates Natapei as interim PM". Radio New Zealand International. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  14. ↑ "Supreme Declared Natapei, Acting Prime Minister ", Government of Vanuatu, June 16, 2011
  15. ↑ "Natapei withdraws recognition of Abkhazia". Vanuatu Daily Post. 2011-06-20. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  16. ↑ "Vanuatu new gov't annuls Abkhazian recognition". Trend News Agency. 2011-06-17. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  17. ↑ "Relationship with Vanuatu is still discussed in Abkhazia". Experts' club. 2011-06-22. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  18. ↑ "Vanuatu, Abkhazia play out odd couple farce". Georgian Daily. 2011-06-21. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  19. ↑ "Kilman elected Vanuatu PM - ten days after ouster by court". Radio New Zealand International. 2011-06-27. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
  20. ↑ "Memorandum dated 23 May 2011 is valid". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Abkhazia). 2013-03-22. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
  21. ↑ Ligo, Godwin (2011-07-14). "Minister says oil an issue over non recognition of Abkhazia". Vanuatu Daily Post. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  22. ↑ "Vanuatu’s recognition to the Republic of Abkhazia". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Vanuatu). 2011-10-07. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
  23. ↑ "People's Movements Nagriamel and John Frum (Vanuatu) issue recognition to the people of Abkhazia". Abkhaz World. 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Абхазия и Вануату в ближайшее время планируют подписать соглашения о сотрудничестве в области культуры, торговли и банковской сфере" (in Russian). Apsnypress. 2011-07-12. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Te Moli Venaos-Goiset, Ambassador designated to Abkhazia from Vanuatu, congratulates President Alexander Ankvab on his inauguration". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Abkhazia). 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2012-01-05.
  26. ↑ "Abkhazia plans to export wine to Vanuatu". Baku Today. Retrieved 2012-01-05.
  27. ↑ "Vanuatu admits confusion over Abkhazia link". Radio New Zealand International. 2013-03-18. Retrieved 2013-03-18.
  28. ↑ "Abkhazia: Vanuatu Changes Its Mind Again". EurasiaNet.org. 2013-03-18. Retrieved 2013-03-18.
  29. ↑ "Confusion lingers over Vanuatu’s links with Abkhazia". Radio New Zealand International. 2013-03-19. Retrieved 2013-03-19.
  30. ↑ "Заявление МИД Абхазии в связи с информацией об отзыве признания Республики Абхазия со стороны Республики Вануату" (in Russian). Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Abkhazia). 2013-03-23. Retrieved 2012-03-25.
  31. ↑ "Абхазия опровергает слухи об отмене признания Вануату" (in Russian). Apsnypress. 2013-03-21. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
  32. ↑ "Vanuatu scraps recognition of Georgia breakaway region". 2013-05-20. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  33. ↑ "Georgia Says Vanuatu Has Withdrawn Recognition of Abkhazia". Bloomberg. 2013-05-20.
  34. ↑ "News". President of Georgia. 2013-05-20. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
  35. ↑ "Распространенное грузинскими СМИ сообщение об отзыве Вануату официального признания Абхазии является не более чем фантазией Президента Грузии" (in Russian). Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Abkhazia). 2012-05-21. Retrieved 2013-05-23.
  36. ↑ "МИД Абхазии: отказ Вануату от признания Абхазии - фантазия Саакашвили" (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 22 May 2012. Retrieved 2013-05-23.
  37. ↑ http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=26273
  38. ↑
  39. ↑ "Встреча министра иностранных дел Республики Абхазия Вячеслава Чирикба с министром иностранных дел, международного сотрудничества и внешней торговли Республики Вануату господином Мелтек Сато Килманом Ливтувану.". Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  40. ↑ "Глава МИД Вануату: мы нуждаемся в крове, еде, воде и медикаментах". RIA Novosti. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  41. ↑ "Goiset shortlisted for Roving Ambassador". Vanuatu Daily Post. 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
  42. ↑ "Goiset becomes first Roving Ambassador to Russia". Vanuatu Daily Post. 2011-12-06. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
  43. ↑ "Representatives of the Republic of Abkhazia". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Abkhazia). Retrieved 2013-03-28.