The recognition of Abkhazia's independence by Nauru, the world's smallest island state, is utterly irrelevant, the Georgian minister for reintegration said on Tuesday.

Nauru, an island in the South Pacific Ocean, recognized the independence of the former Georgian republic earlier on Tuesday, with both countries signing an agreement on establishing diplomatic relations.

Nauru is the fourth country to recognize Abkhazia's independence, joining Russia, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

"The recognition of Abkhazia's independence by Nauru is more like a comedy... it changes nothing in the international arena," Temur Yakobashvili said.

Nauru, which has a population of about 15,000 people, is the world's only country with no capital. It became a member of the United Nations in 1999.

Russia recognized Abkhazia and another former Georgian republic, South Ossetia, as independent states shortly after a five-day war with Georgia in August 2008 that began when Georgian forces attacked the latter in an attempt to bring it back under central control.

TBILISI, December 15 (RIA Novosti)