S.OSSETIA, ABKHAZIA TO ASK ECUADOR TO RECOGNIZE INDEPENDENCE

RIA Novosti
Oct 30, 2009

MOSCOW, October 30 (RIA Novosti) – South Ossetia and Abkhazia will
officially ask Ecuador to recognize their independence, the former
Georgian republics’ foreign ministers told RIA Novosti on Friday.

The news followed Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa’s promise on
Friday to consider the requests should they be submitted. Correa
arrived on a three-day visit to Russia on Wednesday.

"South Ossetia will submit an official request. We will be grateful
to the leadership of Ecuador and any other country that recognizes
our independence," South Ossetian Foreign Minister Murat Dzhioyev said.

"We are working on the issue. Abkhazia has already made certain steps
in this direction, and will continue working," Abkhaz Foreign Minister
Sergei Shamba said. The ministers did not specify the date.

Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent republics
shortly after a five-day war with Georgia in August 2008 that began
when Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia in an attempt to bring
it back under central control.

Nicaragua and Venezuela have also recognized the two former Georgian
republics.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress