Shamba: recognition of Abkhazia by Venezuela is a significant event

Sergey Shamba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia, has named the recognition by Venezuela of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be a significant decision, since it will push, in his opinion, a lot of other countries to similar decisions, as Venezuela is the leader in the Bolivarian Union, which includes several states.

"We have the right to expect that a lot of similar decisions will now follow," the Minister said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent in the context with the statement of President of Venezuela Hugo Chaves at the negotiations with President Dmitri Medvedev that "his country recognizes the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia from that day on."

According to Mr Shamba, "it was not a spontaneous decision."

"We made a number of consecutive steps towards recognition of Abkhazia by foreign countries, and established contacts," he said.

The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has reminded that at present a delegation of Abkhazia is on its visit to Latin America.

"The Abkhazian delegation has visited Caracas and Cuba, then, left for Nicaragua. Everywhere, it receives a cordial welcome and assurances of support," said Mr Shamba.

Let us remind you that Temur Yakobashvili, State Minister of Georgia for Reintegration, believes that "Abkhazians and Ossetians should be offended by Chaves' recognition."

Georgia also believes that Chaves has decided to neutralize the yesterday's Georgia's diplomatic victory at the UN, and made his statement after Russia had expressed its readiness to sell arms to his country.

In the opinion of Stanislav Kochiev, speaker of the parliament of South Ossetia, the recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia had started with the countries of Latin America, because the left-wing forces of these countries, which keep the power, are oriented towards Russia.