Georgia's foreign ministry has condemned a visit by Nauru's President Baron Waqa to its break-away region of Abkhazia as a blatant violation of international law.
President of Georgian breakaway republic of Abkhazia Raul Khajimba and Nauru President Baron Waqa Photo: Government of Abkhazia website
Mr Waqa visited Abkhazia to meet its leader before having talks with the leader of South Ossetia, which is a second Georgian break-away region backed by Russia.
In Abkhazia, Mr Waqa confirmed Nauru's friendship with the republic and laid flowers at a memorial in Sukhumi of those who died in the separatist war against Georgia in 1992 and 1993.
Before visiting Abkhazia, Mr Waqa met the Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in Sochi where according to the news agency TASS they discussed co-operation in fisheries and in the fight against terrorism.
He says Nauru's ties with Abkhazia had been challenged by the US and Georgia which tried to bribe Nauru.
Mr Waqa was also quoted as saying he will continue to lobby for Abkhazia's international recognition in return for continued friendship.
The Georgian foreign ministry says Nauru, Venezuela and Nicaragua are the only nations to recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia either out of ignorance of international legislation or under pressure from Russia.
