SINGAPORE DOES NOT PLAN TO RECOGNIZE ABKHAZIA OR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SINGAPORE 000314 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MTS - M. COPPOLA NEW DELHI FOR J. EHRENDREICH E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2019 TAGS: PREL MOPS PBTS GG RS SN SUBJECT: SINGAPORE DOES NOT PLAN TO RECOGNIZE ABKHAZIA OR SOUTH OSSETIA REF: STATE 24186 Classified By: Econ/Pol Counselor Ike Reed for reasons 1.4(b)/(d) ¶1. (C) PolOff delivered reftel points to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Europe Director Lawrence Anderson. Anderson noted that Georgia is a long way from Singapore and said Singapore has no plans to recognize Abkhazia or South Ossetia as independent states. Anderson noted that Singapore's ambassador to the Russian Federation is also accredited to several of the ex-Soviet republics, including Georgia. However, there are no plans for the ambassador or other Singapore diplomats to travel to Abkhazia or South Ossetia. Anderson also told PolOff that, although Russian diplomats called on him last year to explain their position on the breakaway Georgian territories, the Russian Federation has not asked Singapore to follow the Russian lead by recognizing those territories as independent states. Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm SHIELDS