Why JICA revised map of Georgia?
Japan International Cooperation Agency (commonly known as JICA) is an independent governmental agency that coordinates official development assistance (ODA) for Japanese government. It is chartered with assisting economic and social growth in developing countries, and the promotion of international cooperation.
On July 25, 2011 we have received information, that on the website of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in the section of countries, subsection Asia and particularly region of Central Asia and the Caucasus, one may find a map of the area that includes the map of Georgia too.
Even though the picture representing map of Georgia is not very big, one may clearly see, that map of Georgia does not include Abkhazia and South Ossetia - two breakaway territories of Georgia |
What is actual map of Georgia?
Abkhazia and South Ossetia are two breakaway territories of Georgia with the disputed status over whether they are a part of Georgia or sovereign states. The Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of South Ossetia were recognized following the South Ossetia War in 2008 between Russia and Georgia, by five UN member states: Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru, Vanuatu. They are also mutually recognized by two UN non-member states - Transnistria and Nagorno-Karabakh Republic - and by each other.
The European Union, NATO, the OSCE, the United States, Georgia itself and the vast majority of other countries immediately voiced displeasure with Russia's decision to recognize the Abkhazia and South Ossetia. They do not recognize independence of Abkhazia and Ossetia and officially consider them as sovereign territory of the Georgian state. Japan also voiced grave concern over Russia's action to recognize the rebel Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Yasuaki Tanizaki, director general of the Japanese foreign ministry's European bureau, delivered the following message to Mikhail Galuzin, charge d'affaires ad interim at the Russian embassy in Japan: "Our country is gravely concerned about the move.. Our country hopes that Russia ... will take responsible actions for the region's stability." |
What was done?
On July 25, 2011 - the same day we were informed about misrepresentation of historical events of Georgia - our colleague Ann Petriashvili contacted JICA requesting them to make appropriate changes on their web and particularly changing the map of Georgia. Next day - on July 26, 2011 - all maps of all regions including one of Central Asia and the Caucasus were removed from the website and the day after a new - corrected - map of Georgia was uploaded on the website.