Georgia and the Republic of Nauru have diplomatic relations following Nauru’s decision to withdraw recognition of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali/South Ossetia region as independent states.

The protocol establishing diplomatic relations was signed in New York on September 21 by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Nauru President David Adeang on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

During their meeting, Kobakhidze thanked Adeang for Nauru’s decision to withdraw recognition of Georgia’s occupied territories. The sides also discussed cooperation within international organisations and opportunities to expand bilateral and people-to-people ties.

Nauru ended diplomatic relations with the de facto authorities in Sokhumi and Tskhinvali in July and reversed its 2009 decision to recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. Tbilisi welcomed the move and expressed readiness to establish diplomatic relations with Nauru.

Following the signing, Kobakhidze called the agreement the start of a new stage in relations between the two countries and expressed hope for closer cooperation in the coming years.

Nauru’s decision further reduced the number of UN member states recognising Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent. Russia, Syria, Venezuela and Nicaragua remain the four countries maintaining such recognition.