"A qualitatively new stage in the history of Abkhaz diplomacy was opened in 2008 after the official recognition of the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Abkhazia by the Russian Federation and a number of other states," the congratulatory message of Sergey Lavrov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation addressed to Daur Cove, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia on the occasion 25-th anniversary of the establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia.