In 2019, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia, as the central government body, which carries out the functions of developing and implementing of the state policy of the Republic of Abkhazia in the field of international relations and coordinating of foreign policy activities of the Republic of Abkhazia, strictly fulfilled the tasks assigned to it by the country's leadership and the legislation of the Republic of Abkhazia.

The key directions of foreign policy of the Republic of Abkhazia are as follows:
- Strengthening of allied relations and strategic partnership with the Russian Federation;
- Promotion of wide international recognition of the Republic of Abkhazia;
- expansion of international relations and the establishment of foreign contacts;
- Assistance in ensuring of peace and security in the Caucasus region.

In the past year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs actively strengthened and substantively saturated the Russian-Abkhaz relations in various fields. The productive work was continued to strengthen and develop friendly relations with states that recognized the sovereignty of the Republic of Abkhazia, as well as establishment of new foreign contacts.

The active work was carried out to promote a positive foreign political image of the Republic of Abkhazia, information support of foreign policy activities and high-quality coverage of the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia within the country and abroad.

Based on the current legislation of the Republic of Abkhazia, visas were issued to foreign citizens, certificates of return and documents were legalized. The assistance was provided to citizens of the Republic of Abkhazia and foreign citizens within their competence. In addition, the assistance was provided to the relevant departments of the Republic of Abkhazia in the implementation of the law “On the Procedure for Departure from the Republic of Abkhazia and Entry into the Republic of Abkhazia” dated January 26, 2016.

A lot of work has been done on closer cooperation with non-governmental organizations working in the territory of the Republic of Abkhazia and coordination of their activities, as well as on establishing of contacts with international organizations. During 2019, meetings were held with representatives of international organizations at which specific issues and various aspects of interaction were discussed.

As part of the Abkhaz-Russian interaction, in April 2019, in Moscow, a meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia and the Russian Federation D.V. Kove and S.V. Lavrov. During the negotiations, the parties exchanged by views on pressing issues of the current agenda, and also discussed a range of issues related to strengthening of regional security.

The representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia took part in the following events: Russian Investment Forum 2019 “Success Factors: Ideas, Personnel, Competencies”, in Sochi city; the V-th anniversary of the Yalta International Economic Forum "WORLD. RUSSIA. CRIMEA. NEW WORLD REALITY”; St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, in the framework of which the Protocol on Amending in the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Abkhazia on the regime of trade by goods of May 28, 2012 was signed.

During the reporting period, regular consultations continued within the framework of the foreign policy coordination mechanism established by the Memorandum between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia on March 11, 2015.

The particular importance in 2019 was the intensification of relations between the Republic of Abkhazia and the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. The following documents were signed: Action Plan 2018-2021 with the Rostov region, as well as the Action Plans 2019-2021 with the Krasnodar Territory and the Nenets Okrug.

In 2019, Daur Kove, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia made a number of working visits.

In July 2019, the Foreign Minister of Abkhazia visited the Republic of Nicaragua to participate in celebrations dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution. During the visit to Managua on July 20 as part of the celebrations dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution, Daur Kove, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia met with Daniel Ortega, the President of the Republic of Nicaragua. During the meeting, the parties noted the importance of relations between the Republic of Nicaragua and the Republic of Abkhazia and expressed confidence in further building up of full-format bilateral cooperation. During the visit, D.V. Kove with D. Moncada, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua.

2019 was a year of productive cooperation with the Republic of Artsakh. On May 30, 2019 the Abkhaz delegation led by Daur Kove, the Minister of Foreign Affairs visited the Republic of Artsakh, during which a meeting was held with Masis Mayilyan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh,

The outgoing year continued the intensification of relations with the Republic of South Ossetia. On September 19, a delegation of the Republic of Abkhazia led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Daur Kove visited the Republic of South Ossetia, where meetings were held with Anatoly Bibilov, the President of South Ossetia, Dmitry Medoev, the Foreign Minister, and Alan Elbakiev, the Ambassador of the Republic of Abkhazia in the Republic of South Ossetia. In addition, Anatoly Bibilov, the President of the Republic of South Ossetia visited the Republic of Abkhazia.

In 2019, relations with the Transnistrian Moldavian Republic were actively developed. More than 30 official meetings took place in the Representation of the Republic of Abkhazia in the TMR. Meetings were held with Vitaly Ignatiev, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and his deputy A.P. Stetsyuk at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the TMR. The visit of Alexander Vataman, the Plenipotentiary Representative of the Republic of Abkhazia to the PMR to the Republic of Abkhazia also took place.

In May 2019, the delegation of Abkhazia attended the festive events dedicated to the 5-th anniversary of the proclamation of the DPR.

The work of the Embassies and Representative Offices of the Republic of Abkhazia in abroad was actively executed.

During the reporting period, the Embassy of the Republic of Abkhazia in the Russian Federation continued to represent the interests of the Republic of Abkhazia in the Russian Federation, took part in resolving of foreign policy and consular issues, and defended the interests and rights of citizens and legal entities of the Republic of Abkhazia.

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Abkhazia in the Russian Federation, in accordance with the powers granted to him and the tasks set by the leadership, carried out contacts with the legislative and executive bodies of the Russian Federation, with public organizations and other departments to expand and strengthen the channels of interaction and cooperation between the Republic of Abkhazia and the Russian Federation, foreign diplomats accredited in Russia to establish closer contacts and constructive cooperation.

During the reporting period, the Embassy of the Republic of Abkhazia in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela was actively involved in the work. Z.K. Gwajava, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Abkhazia in the Republic of Venezuela and in the Republic of Nicaragua participated in all events organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the BRV for accredited diplomats.

The interaction was carried out with the Foreign Ministry of Venezuela; personal working meetings were held monthly by Zaur Gvajava and representatives of the Europe Department of the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs; regular meetings were held with Vladimir Zaemsky, the Russian Ambassador to Venezuela.

In 2019, the active work was carried out to establish and maintain relations with the states of the Middle East and African regions.

The employees of the Department, together with other Departments, organized visits of delegations from countries of the Middle East and Africa, including planning, preparation, escort of delegation and translation of events. Representatives of the Department visited the Syrian Arab Republic, Egypt and Jordan during the year. Active work in 2019 was carried out by the Plenipotentiary Representation of the Republic of Abkhazia in the Republic of Turkey.

During the reporting period, the work of the Official Representation of the Republic of Abkhazia in the Transnistrian Moldavan Republic was actively carried out in the main areas of activity. The Plenipotentiary Representative of the Republic of Abkhazia in the TMR took part in more than 50 events of republican, city and departmental significance that took place on the territory of Transnistria. In the Representation of the Republic of Abkhazia in the TMR, 36 official meetings took place. 77 letters and notes were received from the leadership of the TMR and the leaders of the Transnistrian departments. On ongoing basis, meetings were held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the TMR with Vitaly Ignatiev, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the TMR, and his deputy who is in charge of cooperation with the Republic of Abkhazia.

During the reporting period, the active work was carried out through the Plenipotentiary Representation of the Republic of Abkhazia in the Federal Republic of Germany. Hibla Amichba, the Plenipotentiary Representative of the Republic of Abkhazia in the Federal Republic of Germany maintains contacts with representatives of the Abkhaz diaspora in Germany, as well as a number of countries in Western Europe. Active outreach work is being carried out to promote the positive image of the Republic of Abkhazia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia continues to actively participate in the Geneva International Discussions on Security and Stability in the Transcaucasia. In 2019, four rounds of the Geneva discussions took place, each of which was preceded by extensive consultations with the co-chairs of the Geneva discussions in Sukhum. Despite the lack of tangible progress in reaching of agreement on signing a legally binding agreement on the non-use of force with Georgia, the positive role of the Geneva format for raising and discussing of important and relevant issues for the Abkhaz side should be noted.

In 2019, the Council of Young Diplomats at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia actively worked. On April 26, 2019, a training for diplomats was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia, organized by a delegation of the Organization of Unrepresented Peoples and Nations (UNPO) together with the Council of Young Diplomats at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia. The main purpose of the training was the development by future Abkhaz diplomats of the necessary skills of diplomatic art, as well as consolidating of ideas about the key foreign policy priorities of the Republic of Abkhazia.

On July 10-11, the CYD delegation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia took part in the VI-th Forum of young diplomats of the countries of the Eurasian space in Moscow. On November 12-15, 2019, the Council of Young Diplomats to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia took part in the III-rd Global Forum of Young Diplomats, which was also held in Moscow.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs intends to be guided by the national interests of the Republic of Abkhazia, increasing the effectiveness of its work in realizing of the main goals of foreign policy and creating of strong guarantees of security and sovereignty of the Republic of Abkhazia.