Jim O'Keeffe
Question:149 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give details of the states of the former Soviet Union which are now separately recognised as independent states by this country.
Written Answers. - Independent States of Formal Soviet Union.
On 27 August 1991 Ireland and its community partners welcomed the restoration of the sovereignty and independence of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The Irish ambassador in Sweden is accredited to Estonia and the Ambassador in Poland is accredited to Latvia and Lithuania.
As from 25 December 1991 Ireland and its community partners have continued their relations with the Russian Federation, taking account of the modification if its constitutional status. The Irish Ambassador in Moscow is accredited to the Russian Federation.
On 31 December 1991 the Government, in conjunction with its Community partners, extended recognition to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldovia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, following receipt of assurances from those states that they had accepted the guidelines on recognition of new states in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union which had been adopted by the Twelve on 16 December 1991.
Similarly, the Government recognised Kirghizstan and Tadzhikistan on 15 January 1992, following receipt of assurances that they too had accepted the 16 December 1991 guidelines.
With the recognition of Kirghizstan and Tadzhikistan, the Government has recognised all of the members of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The question of the establishment of diplomatic relations with these states is under consideration by the Government. Georgia is the only Republic of the former USSR which has not, to date, been recognised as an independent state. The Twelve have called upon all political forces in Georgia to renounce violence and to engage in a democratic process of dialogue and national reconciliation.