Dear Sir/Madam,
Further to International Bureau circular 127 dated 25 May 2009, GEORGIA wishes to remind UPU member countries of the following:
"Abkhazia and South Ossetia are regions situated within the internationally recognized borders of Georgia, whose territorial integrity is supported and fully recognized by the relevant United Nations resolutions.
"The regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia have put into circulation illegal postage stamps bearing the inscriptions "Republic of Abkhazia" in English, Russian and Abkhazian, and "Republic of South Ossetia" in English and Russian. These stamps do not comply with the conditions for postage stamps set out in article 8 of the Universal Postal Convention, but are nevertheless sold on various websites.
"Georgia therefore officially requests UPU member countries and their designated operators, the World Association for the Development of Philately (WADP) and all other interested parties not to allow dissemination of any information or articles regarding the above-mentioned illegal issues in stamp catalogues or the philatelic press, nor to put them on the market. Georgia also urges the designated operators of UPU member countries not to accept or process any correspondence bearing illegal postage stamps issued by Abkhazia and South Ossetia, but to return any items bearing such illegal postage stamps to their senders.
"Georgia trusts that the UPU, its member countries and their designated operators, the WADP and all other interested parties will take all necessary actions to ensure that universally acknowledged international norms and principles are upheld."
Yours faithfully,
K.J.S. McKeown
Director of Markets Development
