Vanuatu's Benefits from the Abkhazian Conflict

• 04.01.2015, 21:13
•  Region,  World

The Republic of Vanuatu located in the South Pacific Ocean continues its twofold games in regard with recognizing the independence of Abkhazia and avoids to express an exact position on this.

In 2011, Vanuatu declared about recognizing the independence of Abkhazia. Later on it established diplomatic relations with Georgia and called back the recognition of Abkhazia. Up to now Vanuatu’s position on the status of Abkhazia is uncertain.

It is noteworthy that in parallel with this, information was circulating in media that Vanuatu is strengthening its relations with Russia, particularly referring to establishing visa-free regime.

Ria Novosti tried to make clarifications from the head of the Foreign Ministry of Vanuatu, Sato Kilman. The Minister has mentioned that the decision about the recognition of Abkhazia’s independence was made on 2011, when he was the Prime Minister of the country. According to Kilman, the basis for such a decision was Vanuatu’s principle of decolonization "the idea that all those, who want to be independent, should be given such an opportunity."

"However, some time later, there was a change of government and we became an opposition. The new government decided to establish diplomatic relations with Georgia. I respect it, and there is no reason that we do not have diplomatic relations both with Abkhazia and Georgia," – the Minister mentioned.

As for the final clarification of the position, Kilman said that comprehensive information is needed for that. "We are waiting for the day, when Vanuatu will be provided with necessary information, to be able to make a decision. We have different opinions, different parties. When we are provided with the whole information, then the political forces of the country will make a decision much easier," – Kilman mentioned.

Such maneuvers of Vanuatu are an example of a way of acting recently adopted by many Pacific countries. With their changing stance on contentious issues, various conflicts this kind of states quite successfully gain some benefits.

The seemingly internationally non-significant countries even act the same way on Taiwan issue, maneuvering between the recognition of Taiwan independence and the "One China" policy, of course, getting also material assistance.

Vanuatu also, as we see, has found a new and quite interesting source of "income." Making use of its "unstable position" on the Abkhaz question, the authorities of the country are being able to get certain benefits both from Russia and Georgia. For example, recently Georgia has declared about its readiness to provide humanitarian aid to Vanuatu hit by a hurricane. Russian planes in their turn, have already provided 60 tons of aid to Vanuatu.

Although Vanuatu benefits from the game launched by the authorities, it cannot continue that long and sooner or later it will be necessary to clarify and fix the final stance on the Abkhazian issue.