A New Zealander has been appointed as the representative of Georgia's breakaway republic of South Ossetia to Nauru.
President of South Ossetia Anatoly Bibilov Photo: AFP
South Ossetia's government information service said Taimuraz Bitiev was chosen by President Anatoly Bibilov as part of moves to extend international ties.
The president said he has instructed his officials to ask Nauru's foreign ministry to accredit Mr Bitiev.
South Ossetia's foreign minister Dmitry Medoev and his delegation are due in Nauru today ahead of next Wednesday's celebrations marking Nauru's 50th anniversary of independence.
The Nauru President Baron Waqa was quoted as saying Nauru would lobby and promote the interests of South Ossetia in the Pacific and he was sure more countries will recognise South Ossetia as an independent country.
Currently, only four do.
The United States bans financial assistance to countries which recognise Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Washington also prohibits US representatives in international financial institutions from supporting programmes that violate Georgia's sovereignty.
South Ossetia information website Photo: South Ossetia information service