Meeting with representatives of the Danish Foreign Ministry and the Danish Refugee Council, Sergei Shamba recalled Joseph Stalin's move in 1931 to turn the Socialist Soviet Republic of Abkhazia into a nominally autonomous republic subject to the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic.
Abkhazia and another Georgian separatist republic, South Ossetia were recognized as independent by Russia last August following Georgia's assault on South Ossetia and Moscow's five-day military operation to force Tbilisi to peace. Nicaragua soon followed Russia's lead in recognizing the republics, but no other country has done so.
Shamba said he hoped the situation would change over time and other countries would eventually recognize Abkhazia.
The minister lamented that many EU member states, including current president the Czech Republic, had demanded that Russia withdraw its recognition and respect Georgia's territorial integrity.
Shamba said the principle of territorial integrity, constantly cited by UN member states, was outdated.
