Sukhum, The presence of Russia frontier guards in Abkhazia does not allow some hot-headed persons to destabilise the situation here, Abkhazian President Sergei Bagapsh said at a reception here on Friday.

Abkhazia observes on Friday the first anniversary of signing an agreement with Russia on the joint guarding of the Abkhazian border. Vice President Alexander Ankuab, Speaker of the Abkhazian Parliament Nuzgar Ashuba, Prime Minister Sergei Shamba, head of the State Security Service Aslan Bzhania and head of the municipal administration of Sukhum Alias Labahua attended the reception given by the Abkhazian President.

According to Bagapsh, the deployment of Russian frontier guards “brought peace and stability to the Gal District.”

General Nikolai Lisinsky, head of the office of the Frontier Guard Department under Russian FSB for the Southern Federal District, said at the reception that the frontier guards were fulfilling all the missions recorded in the agreement, which had been signed by Sergei Bagapsh and Dmitry Medvedev on April 30, 2009.

He thanked the Abkhazian leaders “for the prompt settlement of problems, connected with the allocation of land.” According to his information, “all measures, needed for the creation of a real state border, will be completed in 2011 and early in 2012.”

“We are fulfilling here not only the missions, connected with Abkhazia’ s security. We are also guarding Southern Russia and the country in general. Prior to our deployment here some people could have been under the illusion that history could be turned backwards; while today, after our deployment here and the creation of the state border, all those illusions were dispelled,” Lisinsky stressed.

He said that ten years before he had had to withdraw the Sukhum frontier guard detachment from Abkhazia, and a year ago he had “fulfilled the honorary mission of bringing Russian frontier guards to Abkhazia.”

“The office of the Frontier Guard Department under FSB in the Republic of Abkhazia effectively fulfils all the tasks set before it. The main task is to ensure the security of Abkhazia’s borders and to create favourable conditions for a peaceful development of the republic,” said Semyon Grigoriev, Russian ambassador to Abkhazia. “This is the most pressing task set for themselves by the leaders of the Republic of Abkhazia and the Russian Federation.”

Abkhazian President Sergei Bagapsh pointed to the fact that the first anniversary of the creation of the Frontier Guard Department was observed on the eve of the great holiday – the 65th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. “The grandsons of those who fought at the fronts and defended the state borders of the country are now defending Russia and all her friends here in Abkhazia. This is symbolic,” he said.

04.30.2010  Itar-Tass

Sukhum, Foreign military observers will not be allowed into Abkhazia. The republic’s President Sergei Bagapsh has told reporters in Sukhumi the observers should remain in places from which the threat of an armed conflict emanates and the past 20 years have shown that it emanates from Georgia. Abkhazia is ready to develop relations with all CIS countries and is open for dialogue with all who are willing to talk, Bagapsh said. Abkhazia and another Caucasian republic, South Ossetia, proclaimed independence in the summer of 2008 in the wake of Georgia’s offensive on Tskhinval. Moscow was the first to recognize them in September the same year, and later Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru followed suit.

04.29.2010  The Voice of Russia

Sukhum, Abkhazian authorities will not allow any international monitors into the republic as there is no need for it, abkhazian president Bagapsh said on Thursday.

"We are not going to let any international monitors in here - not the EU or UN missions of military observers," Sergei Bagapsh said adding that "observers are needed over there, where the aggression has been coming from," referring specifically to Georgia.

"The last 20 years shows [aggression] is from Georgian territory," he said.

The Abkhaz president said that his republic would discuss cooperation with other states. "We are not avoiding dialogue," he said.

Under a deal signed by the French and Russian leaders in September 2008, following the Russia-Georgia war, the EU was to deploy 200 monitors in Georgia. However, their mandate became a source of dispute after Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states.

Abkhazia has been repeatedly against admitting EU monitors due to the EU's refusal to recognize it as an independent country.

04.29.2010  RIA Novosti

Strassbourg, The participants in a session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasburg on Wednesday pronounced Georgia responsible for the war in the South Caucasus in August 2008. We have more details from Yevgeny Kryshkin.  Addressing the participants in the debates the EU special representative for Georgia Heidi Tagliavini made it clear that it was Georgia who unleashed a war in South Ossetia. Georgia, she said, provided no explanation regarding its military operations in the region. And there had been no Russian offensive in South Ossetia before the conflict. As Mrs.Tagliavini said, tension in the region came to a head when Georgia attacked it.   This conclusion defies any attempts from Mikhail Saakashvili to portray Georgia as a victim and secure condemnation of Moscow’s moves. But Russia had to interfere in order to stop the bloodshed and compel the aggressor to peace.    As he spoke in Strasburg, the Chairman of the parliamentary International Relations Committee Konstantin Kosachev quoted reports testifying that the Georgian authorities had been planning a war in the South Caucasus.

Two people were killed in Ossetia after President Saakashvili took office in 2003. Another four were killed in 2004. Then 15 were killed, and then – hundreds. But not a single person was killed since Russia intervened in August 2008. Rescued lives are what counts.    Even though the sovereignty of South Ossetia and Abkhazia has been recognized by a number of states, including Russia, a final settlement is nowhere near. Members of the Russian delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe have voiced concerns over Georgia building up its military might. Tbilisi is set on establishing control of both republics, which were never part of Georgia except for the Soviet period. For this reason, a settlement in the Caucasus is high on the international agenda.   PACE can prove an effective instrument in normalizing relations between all parties involved, including South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Given the situation, the Chairman of the International Relations Committee Konstantin Kosachev has urged the Assembly to seek a balanced approach on the South Caucasus which would honor the sovereignty of two newly formed states.

04.28.2010  The Voice of Russia

Two members of Ukraine's parliament, one representing the ruling party and the other belonging to an opposition group, have argued that there is a chance that Ukraine's government will move to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

President Viktor Yanukovych's Party of Regions "will support all efforts by the president and government to help stabilize the international situation," Party of Regions parliamentary deputy Vadym Kolesnichenko told Interfax.

Kolesnichenko was commenting on a speech by Yanukovych at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) on Tuesday.

In that speech, the president condemned the use of double standards in making decisions on whether or not to recognize the independence of various breakaway territories and urged the revision of independence recognition criteria."

To avoid double and triple standards, "Yanukovych as far back as two years put forward a proposal - and we support it - that most likely a new international agreement is needed on principles for the recognition of the indivisibility [of a country] and immutability of borders," Kolesnichenko said.

Andriy Shkil of the opposition Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc said there was a chance that Yanukovych would soon come to parliament with an initiative for recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The parliamentarian told Interfax that Yanukovych had called for recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia during his presidential election campaign.

04.28.2010  KyivPost

Strassbourg, Georgia was the one to begin hostilities in South Ossetia in August 2008, Heidi Tagliavini, head of the EU fact-finding mission investigating the causes behind the 2008 war in the Caucasus, told the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe on Wednesday. She said Georgia had failed to properly account for its actions. At the same time, she believes other parties involved share responsibility for the conflict. Ms Tagliavini criticized Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as contradicting international norms on territorial integrity. She regretted the absence of “preventive diplomacy” to promote a solution to the conflict.

04.28.2010  The Voice of Russia

Sukhum, Georgian drones have violated Abkhazia’s air space more than 40 times since May last year, says an official of the Russian Security Service’s Border-Guard Department in Abkhazia Vassily Malayev. He has also said that more than 25 caches with arms, ammunition and explosives have been found in Abkhazia. Russian and Abkhaz frontier guards jointly guard the Abkhaz-Georgian border in keeping with an agreement to that effect that the two republics signed in April 2009.

04.27.2010  The Voice of Russia

Strasbourg, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has called for working out criteria for resolving frozen conflicts.

"Ukraine is ready to support the equality of the values and democratic rights of the people living in frozen conflict areas," said Yanukovych, when asked whether Ukraine could recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

"We are categorically against the use of double standards in this issue. The time has come to consider the criteria for granting independence and to work out approaches towards resolving frozen conflicts," the Ukrainian president said.

04.27.2010  Interfax

The issues of migration policy were discussed today, on April 23, at a meeting chaired by the President Sergey Bagapsh.

The head of the state emphasized that any country’s security is immediately connected with migration processes. “We must register citizens moving out of and into Abkhazia. More and more people began to come to the republic. In connection with the construction development in Abkhazia a lot of gastarbeiters come here. We should know what purpose these or those people arrive here for and what they intend to do. For now everything is happening spontaneously”, Sergey Bagapsh said.

The President is certain that “if migration issues are not regulated now, then we will face big problems”.

“The state order should be introduced in this issue already today, we should strengthen control measures over the migration process in the republic”, the head of the state declared.

Bagapsh called the State Migration Service (SMS) to work in close contact with the State Security Service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The SMS Chairman Vladimir Arshba briefed on the state of affairs in the structure he heads. Today only eight people are on the SMS staff. Now the SMS is in the phase of organizational building.

Arshba also said the SMS is establishing contacts with the Federal Migration Service of Russia.

The meeting participants mapped out concrete measures in order to strengthen the SMS. “The Migration Service has only recently been created. Our task is to help it form and develop”, Bagapsh said.

Other issues were also discussed at the meeting.

It was attended by the Prime Minister Sergey Shamba, heads of the republic’s security agencies, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health Care.

04.23.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

On April 23 a well-know woman in Abkhazia Adile Abbas-ogly will be 90. She is the author of “My Abkhazia – my destiny” book about her life in the family of the republic’s head Nestor Lakoba and the repressions that have ruined all her family.

Adile was the wife of Saria Lakoba’s brother – Gamida Dzhikh-ogly and became a widow at the age of 17 as a result of repressions. Her husband was arrested and executed by shooting for "sabotage" when building the Sukhum HHP. Then she was repressed too. Arrest, prison, exile, escape, endless persecution and ordeals could not break her.

On the anniversary eve the President Sergey Bagapsh, a MP Zurab Adleiba and the Presidential Administration head Grigory Enik paid a visit to Adile Shakhbasovne.

Sergey Bagapsh congratulated her, presented her with a splendid bunch of roses and wished her sound health.

The head of the state said that “for selflessness and courage shown in the period of mass repressions and in connection with the 90th anniversary” he issued a decree awarding her with our country’s supreme award. Sergey Bagapsh presented Adile Abbas-ogly with the "Akhdz-Apsha" (“Honor and Glory”) Order of the second degree. “You have deserved this award like nobody else. Despite all that you have gone through, you continue to work today”, Sergey Bagapsh said.

Adile Shakhbasovna told the President a lot of interesting things about her family. The President was amazed how well she remembered the family of the Bagapshs.

“Be sure, whatever happens, Abkhazia will never be gone. It will prosper. Remember my words!” Adile Shakhbasovna told the President.

“Adile Abbas-ogly’s “My Abkhazia – my destiny” was first published in 2005, aroused readers’ great interest, was sold out quickly and has already become a rare book”, a candidate of history V. Naumov writes. “Simple, vivid and authentic memoirs of a victim of the Stalin epoch’s tyranny have recently aroused marked interest abroad: in the middle of 2008 the book was published in Istanbul translated into the Turkish language; the Hungarian edition of the memoirs has been prepared, they are also to be published in England, France, Germany and Italy”.

In 2009 the AST Moscow publishing house published the second edition of this book supplemented with documents and photos earlier unknown.

04.23.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, PACE has been unable to give an appropriate political evaluation to the August 2008 Georgian aggression  against South Ossetia and  Russia’s subsequent reaction to it.  That is the opinion of Konstantin Kosachev, Chairman of the Duma’s  International Affairs Committee, speaking in an interview for Voice of Russia (VOR). He has therefore called on his European colleagues ahead of PACE’s upcoming April 26th session in Strasbourg, to give due attention to the humanitarian situation in the Caucasus.

PACE continues to discuss the conflict in the Caucasus and on April 28th, the European deputies will hear the report by David Wilshire and Matthias Ersh, who visited Abkhazia, Georgia and Russia  this month.

In August 2008, Georgian troops invaded South Ossetia, leading to the death of hundreds of people, forcing Russia to intervene to save innocent lives. South Ossetia and Abkhazia later declared their independence, which has been recognized by Russia and other countries. European deputies have since 2008 been  trying to answer the question of  who was the aggressor in the Caucasus tragedy  but have so far failed in their attempts.

However, leaders of  PACE are  acutely aware of the need for  concerted  efforts to find a way out of the crisis in that region, said Mr. Kosachev. The issue of the humanitarian fallout from the conflict is being tabled at the spring session of PACE. We are to some extent, shunning politics because PACE seems unable to handle political issues. PACE’s evaluations at previous sessions do not correspond to events in South Ossetia, and Russia disagrees with them, said Kosachev.

We and our European colleagues are  now focusing on the pressing problems caused by the conflict in the Caucasus, said Kosachev. He told VOR that apart  from the Caucasus problem, more than 20 serious issues  will be discussed by  PACE during its five-day session. Among them  is the global economic crisis, and the increase  in migration  as a  result of it. Other issues are human rights in Europe and sea piracy. The Russian delegation will take active part in the discussion of starvation in the former Soviet Union from 1932 to 1933, said Kosachev.

The issue of famine was blown out of proportion by the former leaders in Ukraine, and some Ukrainian members of PACE still plan to argue that the starvation was directed exclusively at Ukrainians as a people, said Kosachev. The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov has been invited as a special guest,  by the president of  PACE, Movlud Chavushogl, to participate in the work of the Assembly. Mr. Lavrov is expected to touch on the issue of the attempts by some people to falsify history for vested interests.

04.23.2010  The Voice of Russia

Information memo from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia

The First World Conference on Climate Change and Human Land, Bolivia.

More than 20 thousand delegates from 136 countries including those of Europe, Asia, Africa, North, Central and South America took part in the First World Conference on Climate Change and Human Land, which was held in the Bolivian Department of Cochabamba from April 20 till April 22, 2010. The invited President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez, the Ecuadorian leader Raphael Correa, Heads of Paraguay and Nicaragua Fernando Lugo and Daniel Ortega also became the Summit guests.

The Summit participants discussed 17 themes connected with ecology and climate change, more than 200 international and about 300 Bolivian mass-media covered its work.

Abkhazia also took part in the Summit, thanks to a group of Bolivian and Argentinian activists supporting our Republic. During the summit they did much work. As a result all the participants could familiarize themselves with the history of our country and receive information on DVDs which had been delivered in advance to distribute among guests. They also criticized and protested against the UN representative's speech who, according to activists, was trying in every way possible to lie and mislead everyone who showed any interest to the new presented country.

The people of Abkhazia highly appreciate the given support and are grateful to our friends from Bolivia and Argentina for the work and fundamental understanding they show in relation to our Republic. Their aspiration for bringing the true position of Abkhazia to the world community and for giving every country a chance to receive trustworthy information about it cannot leave any citizen of Abkhazia indifferent.

04.22.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, Today the President of the Republic of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh chaired a broadened Cabinet's meeting dedicated to preparation for the upcoming resort season. The meeting was also attended by the Vice-President Alexander Ankvab, the Speaker of the People's Assembly Nugzar Ashuba, the  Presidential Administration head Grigory Enik, heads of city and district administrations, as well as representatives of some Russian Ministries.
 

Opening the meeting the President pointed to the necessity of a responsible approach to the resort season preparation, taking into consideration the importance of the tourist industry in the development of the Abkhaz economy. Thus, the Head of the State called ministry and department heads to analyze previous years' mistakes  and to create as much as possible favorable conditions for tourists' rest.
 

The Chairman of the State Committee on Resorts and Tourism Tengiz Lakerbai summed up the 2009 season and briefed on the course of preparation for the new season. He said the last year's season could be called successful in spite of the fact that it fell on the peak of the world financial crisis. According to Lakerbai, it was achieved thanks to a successful advertizing campaign and a competent price policy. According to the State Committee Chairman, the majority of properties kept pre-crisis prices for accommodation. Tengiz Lakerbai forecasts increase in the number of tourists in the new season. According to him, new tourist routes are to be opened.
 

The director general of the "Abkhazavtodor" state-owned company Leonid Lolua told about the course of repairation of highways in the districts with the main tourist routes.
 

Minister of Internal Affairs Otar Khetsia said that the department he heads had developed a plan of struggle against offences, unfortunately, increasing traditionally in a resort season.
 

Minister of Health Care Zurab Marshania briefed the meeting participants on the developed plans to improve health protection of tourists. The President charged the Minister of Health Care and the head of the Gagra district administration to solve the problem of improving the work  of the district emergency station. The Head of the State promised to render financial aid for purchasing new ambulance cars.
 

The Minister of Tax and Tax Collection and the EMERCOD head also spoke at the meeting.
 

Summing up the Cabinet's meeting, the President expressed confidence that all the remarks will be taken into consideration. The Head of the State charged the Prime Minister Sergey Shamba to instruct appropriate services to audit financial activity of the leased properties not carrying out their obligations.

04.21.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

The statement by the Georgian foreign minister, Grigol Vashadze at the UN Headquarters in New York is evidence of that country’s lack of interest in the restoration of peace in the Caucasus. He said that Georgia is ready to sign a non-use of force agreement, but only with Russia and not with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, a statement  capable of misleading only the uninitiated, said Andrei Grozin of the Institute for the CIS.

The statement by Mr.Vashadze is no more than a Public Relations gimmick, said Grozin. From the start, Tbilisi well knew that Russia will not accept such an arrangement. Russia’s position remains unchanged South Ossetia and Abkhazia are independent countries and should be full-fledged participants in peace talks. Moscow will not accept the sidelining of both states, said Grozin. Georgian politicians know it and yet are suggesting a version that is unacceptable to Russia. It will serve everybody well if Tbilisi signs up to a legally binding agreement of non-use of force against either South Ossetia or Abkhazia.

In August of 2008, South Ossetia was attacked by Mikhail Saakashvili government, forcing Russia to compel Georgia to embrace peace in order to halt the unnecessary bloodshed. Sukhum and Tskhinval are insisting on the signing of a legally binding non-use of force agreement, seeing such  an agreement as the only guarantee against a repeat of the 2008 tragedy in  the Caucasus. Besides, such  an agreement could lead  to the normalization of the situation in the region, as well as help rebuild trust in Georgia.

But the present leaders in Georgia are not impressed by such a turn of events, and the reason is quite ordinary. Georgia still harbours the dream of reestablishing control over South Ossetia and Abkhazia, ignoring the fact that both republics are now independent states recognized by a number of  UN members. Georgia is beefing up its military potential, preparing to achieve its goal  at all cost. It is being helped by some members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. NATO, determined to spite Russia. Hence Tbilisi’s attitude at the Geneva talks is less than luke-warm.

04.20.2010  The Voice of Russia

Sukhum, A meeting with the Foreign Minister of Abkhazia Maxim Gunjia and the head of the Department for South Caucasus of the MFA of Turkey Nurdan Bairaktar Golder took place on April 19.
 

The meeting was dedicated to the sea communication between Turkey and Abkhazia. The parties discussed the existing status of this issue and expressed mutual desire to promote intensification of both personal contacts and trade and economic relations between citizens of both the countries.
 

Maxim Gunjia stressed that one must not put political obstacles in a way of closer relations of the Abkhaz Diaspora living in Turkey with the historical Motherland, calling recent initiatives of the Georgian side which has applied for the International Maritime Organization not to carry out sea communication with Abkhazia without a preliminary Georgia’s endorsement unacceptable. Gunjia also emphasized that the republic’s leadership has a task of opening through service with Turkey.
 

Discussing possibilities of economic cooperation, the Head of the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Abkhazia said that during the post-war period trade with Turkey made 80 % of all Abkhazia’s foreign economic relations while today, owing to the blockade imposed to Abkhazia by Georgia since 1996, economic contacts with Turkey has considerably decreased. Abkhazia, nevertheless, supports encouragement of economic relations between Turkey and Abkhazia, Gunjia added.    
 

Dwelling upon the prospects of strengthening stability in the Caucasus, Maxim Gunjia declared that in many respects the situation will depend on the position of Turkey and Russia, against the background of marked strengthening of bilateral ties between these two states. It was mentioned that Abkhazia strives to develop active regional cooperation without an accent on bilateral Georgian-Abkhaz relations.

04.19.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Visits by the Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Samuel Lopez to South Ossetia and Abkhazia in the three days from last Tuesday produced agreements to establish diplomatic ties and build cooperation in foreign policy and the economy.

Mt Lopez spoke about closeness that cannot be diminished by physical distance. In Tskhinval, he inspected damage from the Georgian aggression in August 2008  and toured Russian-assisted reconstruction projects.

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko has described the visit as a great diplomatic achievement by the two new South Caucasus states.

04.19.2010  The Voice of Russia

New York, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on Georgia to expand dialogues with Abkhazia and South Ossetia and to ensure methods of trust in the region.

Ban Ki-moon met on Friday with Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze at the UN headquarters in New York. During the talks on the republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia the UN chief also appraised Geneva consultations on South Caucasus.

The format of the discussions on security and stability in the South Caucasus was established after the five-day war between Georgia and Russia in August 2008.

Delegations from Abkhazia, Georgia, Russia, the United States and South Ossetia participate in the Geneva meetings on an equal footing. Representatives of the European Union, the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe also attend.

04.17.2010  RIA Novosti

Sukhum, The Vice-President of Abkhazia Alexander Ankuab, who is in charge of working out the passport for travel abroad, presented the layout of the passport made in Goznak to MPs.

He specified that the Abkhaz passport for travel abroad consists of 36 pages with the cover of dark blue color. All pages of the passport are numbered; the State Emblem of the Republic of Abkhazia as well as water marks are printed on every page. The images of the Sukhum quay, Lake Ritsa, elements of ancient Abkhaz ornaments both hidden, which are not visible, and noticeable are used as a water mark original. In the upper part of the cover’s face “Republic of Abkhazia” is printed by foil of silver color in the Abkhaz, Russian and English languages, in the lower part - the word "Passport" also in three languages, and the image of the State Emblem in the centre. Personal data of the passport bearer is indicated on the last page: on the right, where the photo is pasted in, in the Russian and English languages. All texts in the passport are also in three languages. The passport cost will not exceed three dollars.

“It’s impossible to forge this passport”, Alexander Ankuab said addressing MPs. He added that the text had been translated into the Abkhaz language by a special linguistic commission. The Vice-President said that a diplomatic passport layout is also being prepared.

MPs asked the Vice-President about the procedure of receiving the passport, about the possibility of creating a new internal passport in future.

The Speaker of the Parliament Nugzar Ashuba asked MPs to make remarks and express wishes if there are some.

“I think, it is more expedient to make remarks and proposals today, making use of the Vice-President’s presence who is in charge of this process instead of writing articles to local newspapers later”, the Speaker said to MPs. However there were no remarks from the part of MPs.

Nugzar Ashuba thanked the Vice-president Alexander Ankuab and the group which was engaged in working out the passport layout for the job done.

04.16.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, The Foreign Minister Maxim Gunjia met with the Foreign Minister of Nicaragua Samuel Santos Lopez. The Nicaraguan delegation is on the first official visit to Abkhazia.
 

The Abkhazia's Ambassador to Russia Igor Akhba also participated in the meeting.  
 

The head of the Foreign Ministry of Abkhazia took an interest in the development of economic and political contacts with the Latin American country which was the first after Russian to recognize Abkhazia's independence. Gunjia thanked his colleague for support the Nicaraguan side was giving during the delegation of the Foreign Ministry of Abkhazia's visit to Managua. “We are very proud and we'll always remember our meeting with your President Daniel Ortega”, the Minister said.
 

In turn the head of the Nicaraguan Foreign Ministry Samuel Santos Lopez stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation between the two states in different spheres.
 

According to Maxim Gunjia, Abkhazia could cooperate with Nicaragua in the banking sphere, in agriculture. “Agriculture is developed in Nicaragua , and you produce the products popular and in demand here”, he said. “We were also struck by the high technologies you are introducing. We are interested in projects on generating electricity from geysers, hot wells.
 

The head of the Foreign Ministry of Abkhazia said that the issues of economic cooperation will be discussed in details during the President of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh's visit to Nicaragua. “We will do the utmost for our cooperation to develop actively. And our prospects are far-reaching”, Gunjia said.
  

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua said that Abkhazia might open its diplomatic mission in Managua at any time. “And you can you use this platform for  building relations with many countries which haven't recognized Abkhazia”, Samuel Santos Lopez said.
 

The Abkhazia's Ambassador to Russia Igor Akhba confirmed the Embassy of Abkhazia was ready to cooperate intensively with Nicaragua.

04.16.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 President of Nicaragua Daniel Ortege, Foreign Minister Samuel Santos Lopez awarded with the Republic of Abkhazia's supreme awards

Sukhum, By a President of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh's decree, the President of Nicaragua Daniel Ortega and the Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Santos Lopez were awarded with the supreme award of the Republic of Abkhazia – the "Akhdz-Apsha" (“Honor and Glory”) Order. Sergey Bagapsh himself announced it today at a meeting with the Nicaraguan delegation and personally presented Mr. Lopez who has arrived on a two-day visit in Abkhazia with the Order.
 

According to Bagapsh, he presented them with the awards for courage shown by Nicaragua in relation to Abkhazia and support the country's authorities are giving to the young republic.
 

“We highly appreciate what Nicaragua has done for us and are extremely grateful to this country and its leadership. We will be good friends and partners in all”, Sergey Bagapsh declared.

04.16.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 The Republic of Nicaragua's delegation headed by Foreign Minister Samuel Santos Lopez arrived in Abkhazia on official visit

Sukhum, A delegation of the Republic of Nicaragua headed by the Foreign Minister Samuel Santos Lopez has arrived in Sukhum. The plane with Lopez landed on April 15 at 10:50pm Moscow time at the Sochi airport.
 

After wreath-laying to the Glory Memorial the delegation was received by the President of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh.
 

Welcoming the guests, Sergey Bagapsh emphasized that “both the authorities and people of Abkhazia are grateful to Nicaragua for the recognition of the republic's independence and are obliged to build such an economic and foreign policy to justify great confidence of Russia and Nicaragua  which have taken such a serious decision”.
 

In turn the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua conveyed the most cordial greetings and the best wishes from the President Daniel Ortega to the authorities and people of Abkhazia.
 

“The Abkhazs are a nation which has suffered in its struggle for independence, as well as as a result of the blockade. We understand you very well, since we have endured it all ourselves, and we, certainly, will always support you”, Lopez said. He emphasized that the delegation's visit to Sukhum is aimed at further strengthening of cooperation between the two states.
 

The Nicaraguan diplomat gave Sergey Bagapsh an invitation from Daniel Ortega to visit Nicaragua at any time convenient for him. “After visiting our country, you will feel the Nicaraguan nation's respect to the Abkhaz nation”, Lopez added.
 

Sergey Bagapsh asked to convey his gratitude for the invitation to the President of Nicaragua, and assured the foreign policy department head that he “will certainly find time to visit this beautiful country”.  
 

“We have a lot of possibilities to develop mutual relations between our countries. In spite of the fact that geographically we are far away from each other, today the world is developing in such a way that big distances are not a hindrance”, Bagapsh said.  
 

“We will charge the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Government to think over a number of areas where we could carry on economic and foreign policy cooperation”, Bagapsh added.

04.16.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 President of the Republic of Abkhazia S. V. Bagapsh received PACE delegation

Sukhum, The President of the Republic of Abkhazia S. V. Bagapsh received a Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe delegation. The delegation included PACE rapporteurs Mátyás Eörsi and David Wilshire, the Monitoring Department head Agnieszka Nachilo and the adviser for human rights Sabrina Buescher.

PACE representatives said that their visit to the republic was aimed at familiarizing themselves with the situation. The delegation has already held meetings in Georgia, and will pay a visit to the Russian capital in the beginning of the next week.

The President told the guests about the situation in Abkhazia, the leadership of the republic's position in relation to the settlement of the Georgian-Abkhaz relations. Sergey Bagapsh said that the Abkhaz party participates in the Geneva consultations, however doesn't consider them effective. The head of the republic considers it necessary to sign an agreement between Abkhazia and Georgia on the non-renewal of war against Russia's and the international community's guarantees.

Speaking about the western countries' position, Sergey Bagapsh pointed to the fact that they, by word of mouth declaring the principle of human rights observance, in practice support Georgia's proposals to ban economic contacts with Abkhazia and other methods of isolation.

PACE representatives promised to prepare an objective report following the results of their visits to Abkhazia and Georgia.

04.15.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 Georgia has no right to exercise rights and jurisdiction in relation to the territory of Abkhazia, including its inland waters - Russian MFA

Moscow, Abkhazia is a sovereign state, and Georgia has no right to exercise sovereign rights and jurisdiction in relation to the territory of the Republic of Abkhazia, including its inland waters. This point of view was voiced today by the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Andrey Nesterenko, who commented on the international maritime organization's notification of illegality of navigation in the Abkhaz territorial waters without Tbilisi's permission.

The diplomat reminded that Russia and a number of other states had recognized the Republic of Abkhazia as an independent state. In this connection, the Russian side acts on the premise, "that Georgia has no right to exercise sovereign rights and jurisdiction in relation to the territory of the Republic of Abkhazia, including its inland waters, territorial sea, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, even in spite of the fact that respective sea spaces between Georgia and Abkhazia haven't been demarcated till now".

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia expects that Georgia will refrain from any actions which could break the Republic of Abkhazia's sovereignty in relation to its inland waters, territorial sea, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, encroach on freedom and safety of international navigation in this region or threaten life and health of crew members and passengers", Nesterenko emphasized.

04.15.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 Abkhaz Athlete Denis Tsargush won gold medal of free-style wrestling european championship in Baku

Baku, Today Denis Tsargush won a gold medal of the free-style wrestling European championship held in Baku, ITAR-TASS said.

The world champion Denis Tsargush won the free-style wrestling final in the category to 74 kg. over a Bulgarian Kirill Terziev – 1:0, 2:0.
 

Bronze medals went to an Azerbaijanian Chamsulvar Chamsulvaraev and a Turk Baturhan Demirchin.
 

The Russian mass-media say that on the way to the final Denis Tsargush (Russian team) won over an Austrian Phillip Krepaza, Baturhan Demirchin from Turkey, and over a Georgian Gela Sagirashvili in the semi-final.
 

The governmental information department said that the President Sergey Bagapsh called Denis Tsargush on the phone and congratulated him on the victory immediately after the European championship results had been announced.
 

Sergey Bagapsh said that “the entire Abkhazia is proud of its compatriot's achievements”. The Head of the state wished the champion of Europe peace and further achievements.  
 

In September, 2009 Denis Tsargush became the first free-style wrestling world champion in the history of Abkhazia.
 

Denis Tsargush had no equal in the weight category to 74 kg.
 

Upon arriving in Abkhazia the champion was received by the President Sergey Bagapsh. At the meeting with the athlete the President compared Denis Tsargush's victory in the championship to the country's acquisition of independence.
 

“For outstanding sports achievements, for popularization of physical training and sports”, the free-style wrestling world champion Denis Tsargush was awarded by a President's decree with the “Akhdz-Apsha“ Order of the II degree.
 

As a memorable gift Denis Tsargush was also presented with gold and silver coins “apsars“ issued  to the 15th anniversary of the Victory in the 1992-1993 Patriotic War of the Abkhaz Nation. The Government of the country decided to grant to the athlete an apartment in an apartment block under construction in the center of Sukhum.

04.15.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Gal, The fifteenth five-sided meeting within the framework of the Mechanism on incident prevention and response chaired by the United Nations, attended by the Abkhaz, Georgian, Russian parties and the EU Monitoring Mission was held in the city of Gal on April 13, the press-service for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia told Apsnypress.
 

The meeting was attended by a newly-appointed UN representative Antti Turunen for the first time.
 

The Abkhaz party raised the question connected with the incident near the village of Otobaya, when an explosive device had been discovered on the road going to the village of Gamnukhuri. The Abkhaz party said it didn’t “bring charges, however the version of an intentional provocative action from the part of Georgia couldn’t be excluded”.
 

The Abkhaz delegation expressed concern with numerous appeals of the Georgian leadership to international organizations to apply additional sanctions against Abkhazia. This fact, according to the Abkhaz party, is destabilizing and aimed at creating the atmosphere of tension in the region.
 

On March 5, 2010 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia sent a note to the International Maritime Organization on inadmissibility of navigation in water areas of Abkhazia. “Thereby Georgia tries to close any communications to Abkhazia both transport and information ones. It is the civilian population of Abkhazia that suffers from these actions most of all”, the MFA International Department Chief L. Agrba said.
 

She also reminded that, in turn, Abkhazia itself can be a plaintiff in international organizations regarding the sanctions applied to it. The question of return of the Bouket vessel with the cargo was raised again. The Abkhaz party does not intend to remove this item from the five-sided meetings' agenda until its final settlement.  
 

However the Georgian party refuses to make any explanations regarding this problem, considering this case to be an issue between Georgia and Turkey. The EU Monitoring Mission of EU adheres to the same position.The parties agreed to hold the next meeting in Gal on May 5.

04.14.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 Sergey Bagapsh, Konstantin Zosev discussed issues of possible “ROSAGROTRANS” projects in Abkhazia

Sukhum, Today the President Sergey Bagapsh received the Chairman of “Rosagrotrans” closed joint-stock company Konstantin Zosev who is on a working visit to Abkhazia. The Ministers of Economy and Agriculture Christina Ozgan and Jury Akaba also attended the meeting.

Konstantin Zosev told the head of the state about "Rosagrotrans" major activities. The issues connected with possible "Rosagrotrans" projects in Abkhazia were discussed.

04.13.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, Abkhaz passports for travel abroad will be issued to the citizens of Abkhazia from the beginning of summer. Today the leadership of Abkhazia has approved the layout of the Abkhaz passport for travel abroad made in Goznak.

On Tuesday, April13, the President Sergey Bagapsh held a meeting where the layout of the Abkhaz passport for travel abroad made by Goznak was discussed.

The meeting was attended by the Vice President Alexander Ankvab, the Speaker of the Parliament Nugzar Ashuba, the Vice PMs of the Government Leonid Lakerbaya, Daur Tarba, Beslan Kubrava and Alexander Stranichkin, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Maxim Gunjia, the Presidential Administration head Grigory Enik.

The Vice President Alexander Ankvab who is in charge of the passport design, presented a document layout to the meeting participants.

The Abkhaz passport for travel abroad consists of 36 pages with the cover of dark blue color. All pages of the passport are numbered; the State Emblem of the Republic of Abkhazia as well as water marks are printed on every page. The images of the Sukhum quay, Lake Ritsa, elements of ancient Abkhaz ornaments both hidden, which are not visible, and noticeable are used as a water mark original.

In the upper part of the cover’s face “Republic of Abkhazia” is printed by foil of silver color in the Abkhaz, Russian and English languages, in the lower part - the word "Passport" also in three languages, and the image of the State Emblem in the centre.

Personal data of the passport bearer is indicated on the last page: on the right, where the photo is pasted in, in the Russian and English languages. On the left separately – the surname, the given name and the patronymic of a citizen in the Abkhaz language and the signature of the bearer. All other texts in the passport are also in three languages.

“The passport is up to all international standards. It is made by Goznak with the use of all possible degrees of protection. It’s impossible to find fault with the passport from this viewpoint”, Ankvab stressed. “In my opinion, we can agree on this variant”.

The meeting participants approved the proposed layout.

04.13.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 Message from the press-service for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, The Program of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Nicaragua Samuel Santos Lopez’ official visit to the Republic of Abkhazia

On April 15 – April 17, 2010

The official delegation of the Republic of Nicaragua includes:

1. Mr. Samuel Santos Lopez – the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Nicaragua;

2. Mr. Luis Alberto Molina Cuadro – the Charge d'Affaires ad interim of the Republic of Nicaragua to the Russian Federation;

3. Mr. Roberto Antonio Leal Koppampu – the Head of the European Countries Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua;

4. Mr. Juan Ernesto Vasquez Araya – the First Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Nicaragua to the Russian Federation.

April 15, 2010 (Thursday)

- Arrival at the Sochi airport (Adler).

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia M. K. Gunjia; the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Abkhazia to the Russian Federation I. M. Akhba meet the delegation.

April16, 2010 (Friday)

09:30am –Wreath-laying to the Glory Memorial.

Officials in charge: the head of the Sukhum administration A. M. Labakhua; the chief of the Joint Staff of the Defense Ministry of the Republic of Abkhazia A. I. Zaitsev.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia M. K. Gunjia; the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Abkhazia to the Russian Federation I. M. Akhba accompany the delegation.

10:00am – Meeting with the President of the Republic of Abkhazia S. V. Bagapsh and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua Samuel Santos Lopez. V. A. Chirikba and I. M. Akhba attend the meeting from the Abkhaz party.

11:00am – Meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Abkhazia S. M. Shamba and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua Samuel Santos Lopez.

12:00pm – Meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia M. K. Gunjia and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua Samuel Santos Lopez.

01:00pm – Official Dinner on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia at “Akiafurta” restaurant.

02:30pm – Meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua in the Parliament – the People’s Assembly of the Republic of Abkhazia.

03:30pm – News conference of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua Samuel Santos Lopez and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia M. K. Gunjia (MFA conference hall).

04:00pm – 05:00pm – participation in the opening of A. Popov’s photo-exhibition.

05:00pm – 06:30pm – “Caucasus” State folk dance ensemble performance (Philharmonic society).

06:30pm – Official reception in honor of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua on behalf of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia S. V. Bagapsh (“Ertsakhu” restaurant).

April 17, 2010 (Saturday)

- Departure of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua Samuel Santos Lopez and the official delegation of the Republic of Nicaragua from Sukhum.

The delegation is accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia M. K. Gunjia and the Ambassador of the Republic of Abkhazia to the Russian Federation I. M. Akhba.

- Visit to the New Athos cave, monastery. Walk across New Athos.

- Departure of the official delegation of Nicaragua to Moscow from the Sochi airport (Adler).

The program is prepared by the State Protocol Service of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia.

04.13.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, The Program of a PACE delegation’s visit to the Republic of Abkhazia

The delegation includes:
 

1. Mathias Eorsi – a PACE rapporteur

2. David Wilshire- a PACE rapporteur

3. Agnieszka Nachilo – the Monitoring Department head

4. Sabrina Buescher – an adviser for human rights

5. Krakhatur Adumyan – an interpreter

April 14 (Wednesday)

- Arrival

- Meeting with the President of the Republic of Abkhazia’s Plenipotentiary to the Gal district R. R. Kishmaria.

April 15 (Thursday)

10:00am – Meeting in the Parliament – the People’s Assembly of the Republic of Abkhazia

11:00am – Meeting with the Ombudsman to the President of the Republic of Abkhazia A. Otyrba (MFA conference hall)

12:00pm - Meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Abkhazia S. M. Shamba

01:00pm - Lunch

02:00pm - Meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia M. K. Gunjia and the MFA

International Department Chief L. A. Agrba

03:00pm - Meeting with the President of the Republic of Abkhazia S. V. Bagapsh.

The program is prepared by the State Protocol Service of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia.

04.13.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, In the Federal Agency for settlement of the state border of the Russian Federation Russian and Abkhaz experts have endorsed a draft agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Abkhazia on check points across the Russian-Abkhaz state border, the press-service for Rosgranitsa told "Apsnypress".

The draft agreement on check points provides for the establishment at the Russian-Abkhaz state border of two permanent many-sided check points of the same name Adler-Psou: a railway cargo-and-passenger one and a mixed (automobile and pedestrian) cargo-and-passenger check point.

During the consultations the parties agreed to implement internal procedures necessary for the Agreement to be signed in the shortest possible time, the message from the press-service says.

Russian and Abkhaz experts agreed to work out the details of one more draft Agreement between Russian and Abkhaz Governments on the automobile bridge reconstruction and a new automobile bridge construction across the river Psou between the village of Veseloye (the Russian Federation) and the village of Gyachripsh (the Republic of Abkhazia) in connection with disagreements in the draft agreement text.

As a whole, the bilateral meeting participants pointed to the constructive nature of the negotiations held, the message from the press-service says.

The Russian commission of experts was headed by the chief of Rosgranitsa Department of State Policy in the Sphere of Settlement of the State Border Elena Kitova. From the Abkhaz side the commission of experts was headed by the Chief of Staff of the Border Guard Detachment of the State Security Service of the Republic of Abkhazia Valery Chugunov.

Representatives of interested federal executive authorities as well as the second secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Abkhazia to the Russian Federation Madina Avidzba took part in consultations.

The draft agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Abkhazia on check points across the Russian-Abkhaz state border has been developed by Rosgranitsa in pursuance of the “Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Aid Treaty between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Abkhazia”, signed on September 17, 2008, as well as in an effort to regulate admission across the state border of the Russian Federation of individuals, vehicles, cargoes, goods and animals.

04.12.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 Russia and Abkhazia to conclude agreements on provision of the necessary facilities for the check points at the border

Sukhum, Russia and Abkhazia intend to conclude agreements in the sphere of provision of the necessary facilities for the check points at the border.

According to Rosgranitsa, consultations between representatives of concerned federal executive authorities and representatives of Abkhazia regarding harmonization of draft agreements in the sphere of provision of the necessary facilities for the Russian-Abkhaz state border have begun.

The sides have discussed a draft agreement between the governments of the Russian Federation and Abkhazia on the check points across the Russian-Abkhaz state border, a draft agreement between the governments of the two republics on reconstruction of the automobile bridge and construction of the automobile bridge across the river Psou between the village of Veseloye (RF) and the village of Gyachripsh (Abkhazia), as well as a draft agreement between Rosgranitsa and the State Security Service of Abkhazia on interaction and information interchange in the sphere of provision of the necessary facilities for the check points across the Russian-Abkhaz state border.

04.09.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, Today is the 68th anniversary of the hero town of Tquarchal. According to the city administration, at 1:15pm the leadership and representatives of public organizations of Tquarchal will lay wreaths and flowers in the Alley of Heroes where defenders lost in the 1992-1993 Patriotic War of the Abkhaz  Nation are buried.

After visiting the Museum of Glory a grand meeting and a concert of both local ensembles and Sukhum singers will be held in D. Gulia's Cultural Center.

The same day there will be the first night performance of S. Pachalia's Tquarchal State Theatre's “My role“.

In the city in honor of the holiday there will be basketball and tennis competitions and mass festivities in the evening. The City's Day will be concluded with festive fireworks at 11:00pm.

04.09.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 Maxim Gunjia: “The foreign policy of Abkhazia's priority is not unpromising sorting out of relations with Georgia, but search for mutually beneficial cooperation with new partners wherever they are”

Sukhum, The Foreign Minister Maxim Gunjia met with a Bundestag MP, a member of the Green Party of Germany Viola von Cramon, - the press-service for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs said.

The issues connected with further prospects of settlement of Georgian-Abkhaz relations in new realities were discussed at the meeting.

The Minister told the Bundestag MP about the history of Georgian-Abkhaz mutual relations, about top priorities of Abkhazia's foreign policy.

According to Gunjia “the foreign policy of Abkhazia's priority is not unpromising sorting out of relations with Georgia, but search for mutually beneficial cooperation with new partners wherever they are”.

04.09.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 Message from the press-service for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, On April 8 Maxim Gunjia, the Foreign Minister of Abkhazia met in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia with Viola von Cramon a German MP from the Green Party.

The issues connected with further prospects of settlement of Georgian-Abkhaz relations in new realities were discussed at the meeting. The Minister told the Bundestag MP about the history of Georgian-Abkhaz mutual relations. He also said that henceforth the issues connected with the Georgian-Abkhaz settlement will be decided at a lower level. The Minister also declared that the foreign policy of Abkhazia's priority is not unpromising sorting out of relations with Georgia, but search for mutually beneficial cooperation with new partners wherever they are.

04.08.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, On Wednesday, April 7, a border guard duty detail protecting Abkhazia's state border with Georgia discovered a homemade landmine 150 metres South-West from the settlement of Otobaya in immediate proximity to the state border line.

The authorities of the Republic of Abkhazia and local residents of the settlement of Otobaya of the Gal district were notified of the discovered device.

The explosive device will be defused by EMERCOD of Abkhazia.

For the displayed vigilance and efficient actions the distinguished service men will be encouraged by the chief of the Border Guard Department of FSB of the Russian Federation in Abkhazia, the press-service for the Border Guard Department told Apsnypress.

“Protecting Abkhazia's border with Georgia, Russian border guards guarantee piece and security of the border areas' residents”, the agency's interlocutor stressed.

04.08.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, President Sergey Bagapsh signed decrees appointing members of the Government of the Republic of Abkhazia.

• Roman Dbar was appointed Chairman of the State Committee on Ecology and Nature Management of the Republic of Abkhazia,
• Zoya Avidzba – Head of the Department of State Statistics of the Republic of Abkhazia,
• Anatoly Bigvava – Chief of the Department of Capital Construction of the Republic of Abkhazia,
• Adamyr Akhuba - Chief of the Department of Geology, Geodesy and Cartography of the Republic of Abkhazia,
• Gennady Dzhonua – Chief of the State Department of Land Tenure and Land Management of the Republic of Abkhazia,
• Marina Arshba – Chief the State Department of Construction and Architecture of the Republic of Abkhazia,
• Roman Gunjia – Chief of the State Archival Department of the Republic of Abkhazia,
• Alexander Nebadze - Head of the Department on State Technical Supervision of the Republic of Abkhazia,
• Almaskhan Aiba – Chief of "Abkhazenergonadzor" State Department,
• Anzor Ashkhatsava – Chief of the Forestry Department of the Republic of Abkhazia,
• Nerses Nersesyan – Chief of the Department on Standards, Metrology and Certification of the Republic of Abkhazia,
• Guram Amkuab – Chairman of the Abkhaz State Broadcasting Company,
• Manana Gurgulia – Director of "Apsnypress" State News Agency,
• Igor Akhvlediani - Chairman of the Pension Fund of the Republic of Abkhazia,
• Valentina Zhiba – Chairman of the Obligatory Medical Insurance Fund of the Republic of Abkhazia.

04.08.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, Opening of the Russian Federation's trade mission in Abkhazia will help decide more actively the issues of the Russian companies' foreign economic activity in Abkhazia, the Russian Ambassador to Abkhazia Semyon Grigoriev told the Abkhaz TV, commenting on the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin's corresponding order.  

“The order signed by the Сhairman of the Government on March 31, is another step on the way of development of the Russian-Abkhaz cooperation. It was made in accordance with the agreement on mutual establishment of trade missions which was signed last October in Sukhum”, Grigoriev added.  

According to him, trade missions are the structures existing in many countries of the world, and the expediency of their functioning is determined, first of all, by the level of mutual trade and economic cooperation between Russia and this country. Such missions exist in all the CIS countries, in all the largest countries of the world.

“Naturally, bilateral trade between Russia and Abkhazia, for good reasons, hasn't reached any big numbers so far, but the plans which exist and start to be implemented already, say that the volume of mutual trade and economic cooperation can be very serious”, the diplomat said.

As to where and how the Russian Federation's trade mission will be established, according to him, “it's too early to speak” about it. “It is the order of the head of the Government that gives a start to the whole process of trade mission's establishment – the organizational, financial, personnel one. After the process is in the final phase, representatives of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development  including Russia's trade missions abroad, will arrive in Abkhazia, and in contact with the Embassy will decide this issue with the Government of the Republic of Abkhazia”, the Ambassador said.

04.08.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, Today the President Sergey Bagapsh submitted for the People’s Assembly’s consideration a bill “About amendments to the Law of the Republic of Abkhazia “About Universal Conscription and Military Service”, providing for shortening of a call-up period.

It is proposed to shorten a call-up period from 24 to 18 months for the persons who do mandatory military service and do not have a higher education and from 18 months to 12 months for the persons doing mandatory military service and having a higher education.

The shortened call-up periods will only be applied to the citizens drafted from April, 2010.

“Taking into consideration the recognition of independence of the Republic of Abkhazia, conclusion with the Russian Federation of the “Agreement on joint efforts in protection of the state border of the Republic of Abkhazia", the "Agreement on the joint Russian military base in the territory of the Republic of Abkhazia", the "Agreement on cooperation in the military sphere”, improvement of the quality of training service men of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Abkhazia, change of correlation of forces in the region this shortening of a call-up period is considered reasonable”, the President’s Representative to the Parliament Dmitry Shamba told "Apsnypress".

04.07.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

St. -Petersburg, The Choir of Abkhazia’s performance in St.-Petersburg in the annual Lenten concert season held in the northern capital from April 5 till April 8 was a great success.

This season the leading choirs from Russia, Ukraine and Abkhazia perform the best musical pieces of national singing traditions in the Grand Hall of St.-Petersburg D. Shostakovich’ philharmonic society. The festive Easter church psalms, unique ancient chants, spiritual verses are sung in the Church Slavonic, Russian, Ukrainian and Abkhaz languages.

The repertoire of the State Choir of Abkhazia which performed on Tuesday, April 6 had songs from the most valuable possession of the Abkhaz nation’s musical heritage, in particular, unique Abkhaz folk songs and authentic spiritual psalms. Those psalms made a lasting impression upon the audience; spectators asked to sing some songs an encore.

The State Choir of Abkhazia was created in 1969. It is conducted by an Honored Art Worker of Adyghea Nora Adzhinjal, the press-service for the Ministry of Culture said.

04.07.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 Russian president signed law on ratification of agreement with Abkhazia on joint efforts in Abkhaz border protection

Moscow, The President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev signed the law on ratification of the Agreement with Abkhazia on joint efforts in protection of the Abkhaz border, the press-service for the Kremlin said Monday.

According to the agreement, Abkhazia delegates to the Russian Federation the powers to protect the border and sea spaces.

Besides, the agreement determines the status and the terms of deployment of the FSB border forces in Abkhazia.

Medvedev and the President of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh signed the agreement on April 30. Interdepartmental cooperation and interaction agreements between the FSB of Russia and the State Security Service of Abkhazia were also signed. The State Duma passed the law on ratification of the agreement on March 26; the Federation Council approved the document on March 31 this year.

The agreement holds that Russia will be protecting the state border of Abkhazia until the national border service of the country is raised. The parties declare that the agreement is not targeted against the third states.

The document is aimed at the countries’ cooperation in border issues for protection of the state border, struggle against terrorism, smuggling of weapons, ammunition, explosives, poisonous substances and radioactive materials, illegal transfer across the state border of drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors.

The Russian Federation recognized independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on August 26, 2008.

04.06.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, A conference entitled “Russia – Abkhazia: 200 Years Together” was held in Sukhum on Saturday to mark the 200th anniversary of Abkhazia’s incorporation into the Russian empire.

Russian and Abkhazian scholars, historians, experts, Abkhazian government officials, and members of the Russian communities in the republic attended the conference.

Russian Ambassador to Abkhazia Semen Grigoryev read out a message from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. “The conference in Sukhum will contribute to the strengthening of friendship and mutual understanding between the two states, which share common cultural and spiritual traditions,” the message said.

The head of Moscow’s Department of Foreign Economic and International Ties, Georgy Muradov, read a message from Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov.

Abkhazian Prime Minister Sergei Shamba, State Duma deputy Konstantin Zatulin, and other officials spoke at the forum.

The conference was organised by Moscow’s representative office in Abkhazia and Department of Foreign Economic and International Ties.

04.03.2010  Itar-Tass

 Abkhazia expects that Bolivia and Ecuador will recognize its independence in near future – MFA

Independence of Abkhazia "can be recognized by Bolivia and Ecuador in near future ", the republic's Foreign Minister Maxim Gunjia said Wednesday in an interview with Russian journalist. He heads the Abkhaz delegation which has been to Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Ecuador.

"We expect the next recognition of independence of Abkhazia from Bolivia and Ecuador because the attitude to our country is positive there", the head of the Foreign Ministry said. "Sometimes Abkhazia is compared to the problems of separatists in Bolivia, but this country's leadership has thoroughly studied this issue and understands that such a comparison is unacceptable in case with Abkhazia", he specified.

Maxim Gunjia pointed to the fruitful character of the meetings with representatives of political and business circles held in Argentina. "Argentina as well as Chile is interesting for us as an economic and political partner. We managed to establish many interesting contacts in these countries ", he specified.

During the Latin American tour the President of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh's visit to Nicaragua was being prepared, the Minister said. According to him, dates of the President's visit to the region's countries which will start with this country will be agreed during the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua Samuel Santos' visit who is arriving  in Abkhazia on April 14.

“Embassies of Venezuela and Russia rendered big assistance to the Abkhaz delegation” in a visit to Latin American countries”, Maxim Gunjia said. "We have a lot of friends who help us", the Minister emphasized.

04.02.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

The Abkhaz side is disappointed over the results of the tenth round of international discussions on security in Transcaucasia, the President of Abkhazia’s envoy to Geneva discussions Vyacheslav Chirikba said.

According to him “both the Abkhaz and South Ossetian delegations are not satisfied with the fact that during the discussions we failed to proceed to a substantial discussion of an agreement on the non-use of force”. “We expressed concern about delay with working out a document on the non-use of force and released a joint statement. The Russian delegation proposed a compromise draft document which was supported by the South Ossetian and Abkhaz parties, but we failed to start discussing it because of Georgia’s and Geneva process moderators’ position”, Chirikba said.

“Georgia’s representatives refuse to discuss a draft agreement on the non-use of force and try to bring up for discussion the so-called draft of “deoccupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia” what is unacceptable for us”, Chirikba said. According to him “in turn the UN, the EU and OSCE representatives chairing the discussions, follow the tastes of the Georgian side and avoid putting a substantial discussion of the draft agreement on the agenda in every way possible". "They maneuver and try to save the Geneva process, but it’s rather questionable for how long they will succeed”, the President of Abkhazia’s representative to the international discussions on security in Transcaucasia Vyacheslav Chirikba added.

04.01.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Geneva, Abkhazia is disappointed with the results of the latest round of Geneva debates on security in the Caucasus, Abkhazia’s presidential spokesman Vyacheslav Chirikba announced Thursday. Taking part in the talks were delegations from Russia, Georgia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and mediators from the European Union, United Nations and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The Georgian side rejected a Russian-proposed compromise version of a treaty on the non-use of force against Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the spokesman said. He accused the UN, EU and OSCE representatives of trying to avoid discussions of the treaty.

04.01.2010  The Voice of Russia