TBILISI. May 29 (Interfax) - The United States has condemned the Syrian recognition of Akhazian and South Ossetian independence and called on the Syrian leadership to revoke its decision, acting U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Elizabeth Rood said.
Abkhazia and South Ossetia are integral parts of Georgia's sovereign territory and the United States regards the recognition of the independence of these regions as a violation of Georgia's territorial integrity, Rood told reporters following the meeting with foreign diplomats accredited to the Georgian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.
The U.S. is also calling on Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru to change their decision on these territories' recognition, she said.
She also emphasized that there are specific consequences that follow such recognitions. In this regard, Rood recalled that the U.S. lawmakers have already adopted some steps against the countries that recognize those territories as independent nations.
Rood said she believes that the entire international community should unite in support for Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Head of the EU Delegation to Georgia Janos Herman, for his part, told reporters after the meeting at the Georgian Foreign Ministry that the European Union condemns the Syrian move.
The EU authorities in Brussels are intensely discussing the news, he said.
The EU displays full support for Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty within the country's internationally recognized borders and clearly, the EU condemns Syria's decision that contravenes the international law, Herman said.
The EU will continue efforts toward the peaceful settlement of conflicts, he said.
French Ambassador to Georgia Pascal Meunier made a statement too when talking to reporters on Tuesday. To France, this decision of the Syrian leadership does not make any sense, he said, emphasizing that France is supporting Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin also expressed his attitude towards the move by Damascus.
"I am strongly condemning the recognition of Abkhazia's and South Ossetia's independence by the Syrian regime. We remain true to the support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia's, always standing shoulder to shoulder with our Georgian friends. The herd of the Russian Federation's allies has been known to all for a long time now," Klimkin said in Twitter on Tuesday.
Abkhazia and South Ossetia announced earlier on Tuesday that they and Syria recognize each other and had established diplomatic relations at the level of embassies. Following that, Georgia announced launching procedures for severing diplomatic relations with Syria.
Russia's State Duma International Affairs Committee head Leonid Slutsky said in this regard that severing diplomatic relations with Syria on the part of Georgia in reaction to the recognition of Abkhazia's and South Ossetia's sovereignty by Damascus will not stop the process of forging cooperation with the countries.