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Abkhazia–Syria relations

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Abkhazia–Syria relations
Map indicating locations of Abkhazia and Syria

Abkhazia
Syria

Abkhazia–Syria relations (Russian: Абхазско-сирийские отношения; Arabic: العلاقات الأبخازية السورية; Abkhaz: Аԥсны-Шьамтәыла азыҟаӡаара) refers to the bilateral relationship between the Republic of Abkhazia and Syria.

Ba'athist Syria

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Ba'athist Syria recognised Abkhazia on 29 May 2018. The establishment of relations on an embassy-level was announced very early.[1] Syria has an embassy in Sukhumi. Abkhazia has an embassy in Damascus.

In 2008, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad said that Syria agrees "with the essence of the Russian position" in the Abkhaz conflict.[2] In 2013, Abkhazia appointed a Representative of the Abkhaz Foreign Ministry in Syria.[3]

In 2015, the Abkhaz Foreign Minister met Syrian Ambassador to Russia Riad Haddad in Moscow and afterwards said that his government believes Syria will recognize the former Georgian republic of Abkhazia's independence as a sovereign country in the future.[4] In November 2016, President of Abkhazia Raul Khajimba stressed his country's support to Syria in its "war against international terrorism".[5] On the same occasion, Khajimba called Syria a "sisterly country".[6] Nonetheless, Abkhazia supports the re-migration of Syrian citizens of Abkhaz descent back into Abkhazia. In the first five years of the Civil War, about 500 Syrians remigrated to Abkhazia.[7][8][9][10][11] In December 2015, the Foreign Minister of Abkhazia met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Syrian Arab Republic in Russia Mr. Riyad Haddad and they discussed the remigration of Syrian citizens of Abkhaz descent.[12] In December 2016, the first match in Freestyle wrestling between national teams Abkhazia and Syria was held in Sukhum.[13] In August 2017, Abkhazia provided humanitarian aid to Syria.[14] Also in August 2017, an Abkhaz delegation led by Abkhaz Foreign Minister Daur Kove went to Damascus and met with Syrian Prime Minister Imad Khamis. Parliamentary delegations discussed the strengthening of parliamentary relations between both countries.[15] The same month, Abkhaz products were presented at the Damascus International Fair.[16] In November 2017, a Syrian delegation was in Abkhazia and the Abkhaz minister of economy Adgur Ardzinba, said he was preparing a free trade agreement between Syria and Abkhazia.[17] In December 2017, there were first reports that a Syrian recognition of Abkhaz independence may be possible.[18]

In May 2018, the Syrian government recognized Abkhazia, resulting in condemnation from Georgia and the United States.[19] As a result, Georgia severed ties with Syria.

In early September 2018, President Abkhazia, Raul Khajimba paid a state visit to Damascus, Syria. Khajimba met with Bashar al-Assad and high dignitaries in Damascus. Bashar al-Assad decorated Raul Khajimba with the Umayyad Order, the highest decoration of the Syrian Arab Republic. Raul Khajimba also decorated Bashar al-Assad with the Apzha Order I Degree, the highest Abkhazia state decoration. The leaders of the two countries also exchanged gifts and presents from both nations. Abkhazia and Syria agreed to a Comprehensive Treaty of Strategic Partnership and Diplomatic Relationship between Abkhazia and Syria.[citation needed]

The exchange between Abkhazia and Syria has increased since recognition in late 2018. In late September 2019, a delegation consisting of Syrian businessmen and parliament members visited Sukhumi to honor the Independence and Victory Day of Abkhazia. In October 2020, Abkhazia opened an embassy in Damascus.[20]

In May 2021, the Abkhaz president Aslan Bzhania visited Syria on a state visit and met with Bashar al-Assad.[21][22]

Post-Ba'athist Syria

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The status of Syria's relationship with Abkhazia is presently unknown following the fall of the al-Assad regime on 8 December 2024.

Abkhazian diplomatic personnel were evacuated from Syria on 15 December 2024.[23]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Syria recognizes Georgia's breakaway regions in nod to Russia". Deutsche Welle. 2018-05-30.
  2. ^ Quirk, Patrick W. (25 January 2017). Great Powers, Weak States, and Insurgency: Explaining Internal Threat Alliances. Springer. ISBN 9783319474199.
  3. ^ "Sharaf Eddine Abaza Appointed as Representative of the Abkhaz Foreign Ministry in Syria". old.mfaapsny.org.
  4. ^ Джонуа, Ольга (24 December 2015). "Вячеслав Чирикба: Абхазия не обсуждает вопрос беженцев". Нужная газета.
  5. ^ "Abkhazia President to SANA: We support Syria in its war against terrorism – Syrian Arab News Agency". sana.sy. 29 November 2016.
  6. ^ "Fighting Terrorism in Syria Helps Protect Other World Countries from Terrorist Threats: Abkhazian President". syriatimes.sy.
  7. ^ "Abkhazia Invites Diaspora in Syria to Return". Eurasianet.
  8. ^ "Syrian Refugees Grapple with Adapting to Life in Abkhazia".
  9. ^ "From Syria to Abkhazia: A Syrian woman's journey".
  10. ^ Brooke, James. "Syrian Refugees Go 'Home' to Former Russian Riviera".
  11. ^ "145 more diaspora members from Syria expected to arrive in Abkhazia". instabkhazia.com. Archived from the original on 2018-06-17. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
  12. ^ "Meeting of Foreign Minister of Abkhazia with the ambassadors of Syria and Palestine was held in Moscow". www.apsnypress.info. Archived from the original on 2020-10-11. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
  13. ^ "First match in freestyle wrestling between national teams Abkhazia and Syria was held in Sukhum". abkhazmoscow.ru. Archived from the original on 2018-06-17. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
  14. ^ "Abkhazia provided humanitarian aid to Syria". mfaapsny.org.
  15. ^ "Syria, Abkhazia discuss strengthening parliamentary relations – Syrian Arab News Agency". sana.sy. 20 August 2017.
  16. ^ "On the meeting with Imad Khamis, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Syrian Arab Republic". mfaapsny.org.
  17. ^ "Civil.Ge – Georgia Protests Syrian Visit to Abkhazia". www.civil.ge.
  18. ^ "Abkhazia: Looking forward to Syrian recognition - New Eastern Europe". 4 December 2017.
  19. ^ Noack, David X. (1 June 2018). "Mehr als Symbolpolitik". www.jungewelt.de.
  20. ^ "The opening of Abkhazia's embassy in Syria will be a cornerstone in developing bilateral relation". The Syria Times. 6 October 2020.
  21. ^ "Abkhaz Leader Meets Syria's Assad in Damascus". Civil.ge. 17 May 2021.
  22. ^ "De facto Abkhaz President Bzhania visits Syria". Agenda.ge. 17 May 2021.
  23. ^ https://meduza.io/en/news/2024/12/16/russia-evacuates-some-embassy-staff-from-damascus
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