--------------------
News from Abkhazia --------------------
Russia to protect
ships bound for Abkhazia
Sukhum, Russian border guards will help
protect ships bound for Abkhazia, the republic's border guard chief
Zurab Marganiya says.
"Russia's
agreement with Abkhazia on joint patrolling of state borders includes
joint activities on ensuring security in the republic's territorial
waters," Marganiya said as quoted by the Interfax news agency.
"Russian
and Abkhazian border guards are currently working out a plan of joint
actions to stop the Georgian border guards' piracy in the Black Sea," he
added, without elaborating.
08.29.2009 PRESS TV
Russia
to help guard Abkhazia's territorial waters
Moscow, The Russian Federal
Security Service's coast guards will work with Abkhazia's border service
to protect ships passing through Abkhazia's territorial waters from
Georgian forces, the FSB border service said Friday.
Lt. Gen. Yevgeny Inchin, deputy head of
the border service, told RIA Novosti that measures to ensure protection
from Georgia must also be carried out as part of preparations for the
2014 Olympic Games to be held in the Russian resort of Sochi, near
Abkhazia.
Georgia says Abkhazia is part of its
territory and considers the delivery of cargo to the republic by sea
without Tbilisi's permission to be illegal. Georgia's coast guards have
detained 23 ships in Abkhazia's waters since early 2009.
"At sea they behave very aggressively.
Entry of ships under flags of third countries into Abkhazia's
territorial waters serves as grounds for the Georgian side to indulge in
various actions against them," Inchin said.
Asked whether Russia's coast guards will
stop Georgia from detaining ships going to and from Abkhazia, Inchin
said his service has special boats to fulfill this task. "Believe me,
they will do this effectively and productively, as the 'Sochi factor'
with the upcoming Olympic Games is now a decisive one," he said.
08.28.2009
RIA Novosti
Abkhazia and South
Ossetia to be recognized by cartographers
Sukhum, Deputy
Head of the Federal Agency for State Registration, Cadastre and
Cartography Leonard Yablonsky said yesterday Rosreestr prepares to issue
detailed maps of Abkhazia and South Ossetia where the settlements names
will be given in the Abkhaz and South Ossetian transcription not in the
Georgian one, the “Kommersant” Russian newspaper reports.
"We have sent letters of
inquiry to Abkhazia and South Ossetia to specify the settlements names
in accordance with the local transcription. When specifications are
received, work on preparing detailed maps with these states territories
will start", Yablonsky who is in charge of geodesy and cartography
issues in Rosreestr said.
Political maps of the
world where Abkhazia and South Ossetia are indicated as independent
states and painted in the colors different from the Georgia’s color were
printed in Russia by instructions from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs
of the Russian Federation at the end of 2008 and went on sale at the
beginning of this year.
At that now only the
names of the capitals of Abkhazia and South Ossetia Sukhum and Tskhinval
are given in the new transcription. According to Leonard Yablonsky, the
new department’s initiative will help to correct this omission.
08.27.2009 Official site of the president of
Abkhazia
Abkhazia
marks the first anniversary of the recognition of the republic’s
independence by Russia
Sukhum, Abkhazia marks the
first anniversary of the recognition of the republic’s
independence by Russia.
President Sergey Bagapsh, the
Speaker of the Parliament Nugzar Ashuba, the Prime Minister
Alexander Ankuab, representatives of the public organizations came
to the Glory Memorial in the morning. They laid wreaths and
flowers to the Memorial of the warriors who have fallen for the
freedom of Apsny.
Then the republic’s leadership laid
flowers to the Monument to the Russian peacekeepers located in the
territory of the “Sukhum” sanatorium in the Moscow military
district.
At 5:00 pm Moscow time a grand
meeting and a concert will take place in the Abkhaz State
Philharmonic Society. At 8:00 pm Abkhaz variety actors will
perform at the Teatralnaya Square. The culmination of the
celebration will be 20-minute fireworks which are given as a
present to the citizens of the republic by the “A-Mobile” cellular
company.
08.26.2009 Official site of the president of
Abkhazia
The
President congratulated the Abkhaz Diaspora living in the Republic of
Turkey on the anniversary of independence of Abkhazia.
The President
congratulated the Abkhaz Diaspora living in the Republic of Turkey on
the anniversary of independence of Abkhazia.
The congratulation letter
sent to the Caucasian committee of solidarity with Abkhazia says “it is
a holiday for every Abkhaz, whatever country he lives”. “The
centuries-old dream of our nation has come true. It is our common
victory”, Bagapsh emphasized.
At the same time,
according to the Abkhazia’s Plenipotentiary in the Republic of Turkey
Vladimir Avidzba, the numerous Abkhaz Diaspora in Turkey intends to mark
grandly the anniversary of the recognition of Abkhazia by the Russian
Federation.
08.26.2009 Official site of the president of
Abkhazia
Operators
working with Abkhazia see demand growth of 40-60 % this season
The operators working
with Abkhazia see demand growth of 40-60 % this season. According to the
Russian Union of Travel Industry, rooms in Abkhazia’s hotels are
available only from the middle of October. Experts say they were
concerned about the situation at the beginning of the season; however
the results appeared to be unexpected.
“Abkhazia is crowded with
tourists, but the majority of them go there on their own, without tour
agencies assistance. The reasons are clear the economic crisis, decrease
of solvency of the population, reduction in incomes”, the Russian Union
of Travel Industry comments on the situation.
Experts also say tourists
understand it is difficult to expect any special luxury from Abkhazia.
“But the Abkhaz client is
special. He knows perfectly well all the country’s advantages and
drawbacks and doesn’t expect anything supernatural from it. Nothing
embarrasses tourists in Abkhazia either the last wars marks, or still
Soviet sanatoria and boarding houses, or imperfection in service. All
this wanes against a background of the nature unbelievable in beauty and
splendor, the sea which is much purer than that in Sochi or Yalta”, the
Russian Union of Travel Industry adds.
At that the tourists in
Abkhazia seldom spend on extra services. “Excursion programs are in
slack demand. Someone saves, but there are a lot of those who have
already been a hundred times to the Ritsa lake or the New Athos cave”,
experts explain.
08.24.2009 Official site of the president of
Abkhazia
Major
repairs of the Eshera petroleum storage depot tanks are finished
Major repairs of the
Eshera petroleum storage depot tanks are finished, - the General
Director of the "Abhaztop" state-owned company Merab Dzyapshipa said.
According to him, after
repair the enterprise can resume its activity in storing and selling oil
and combustive-lubricating products. Today the storage depot can receive
up to 12 thousand tons of oil products.
The petroleum storage
depot is located in the village of Lower Eshera of the Sukhum district
where they combated violently during the 1992-1993 Georgian-Abkhaz war.
The enterprise hasn’t functioned practically for about 15 years.
According to the "Abhaztop"
state-owned company, the Government allocated up to 18 million rubles to
repair the petroleum storage depot.
08.24.2009 Official site of the president of
Abkhazia
Georgia surprized by
appearence of Abkhazian Adjika in armenian market
The Georgian Ministry of Economic
Development tries to clarify how the Abkhazian “Amtsa” adjika appeared
in the Armenian consumers’ market. As “Interfax” agency reports on this
concern a representative of the Georgian Ministry commented on the
problem. “It’s not excluded that the production is smuggled and is
produced in Armenia. At present we try to get the details by the help of
the Foreign Ministry, after it an official statement will be declared”,
- mentioned the representative.
Russian “News.ru” informs that it is the
first case recorded when the goods produced in Abkhazia officially
appear in the Armenian consumers’ market. There are no political and
economic relations between Armenia and Abkhazia, although a great number
of Armenians live in Abkhazia.
The site notes that the sale of the
mentioned product in Russian market especially in Moscow supermarkets is
realized without any obstacle.
08.25.2009
Panorama.am
Turkish Company Says
Abkhaz Risks Too High
Istanbul,
The Turkish operator of a tanker that was seized by Georgian authorities
for delivering fuel to Abkhazia said Friday that he had given up the
idea of sending any further supplies to the Black Sea territory.
Georgia has passed legislation that
forbids commercial traffic heading to Abkhazia in an attempt to isolate
the territory, which was recognized by Moscow as independent after a
five-day war between Georgia and Russia last August.
Abkhazia has threatened a “proportionate
response” to the Georgian blockade, which it says is aimed at
suffocating it. The operator’s statements suggested that Tbilisi’s
actions might be working.
“The risks are too high now. We take cargo
from one place to another, legally, and we don’t want to deal with
illegal actions such as these,” said Hüseyin San, general manager of the
tanker operator Densa, whose company had been making regular trips to
the Abkhaz port of Sukhumi to deliver fuel.
Georgia says the tanker was picked up in
Georgian territorial waters, but San said Georgia had intercepted it in
international waters off Turkey before taking it to the Georgian port of
Poti.
San said the Georgian authorities had made
no announcement of their intention before the seizure, which meant that
they might have breached the ship’s right to pass freely through
international waters.
Under Georgian law, foreigners risk
prosecution if they enter Abkhazia or South Ossetia, without permission
from Tbilisi.
Some Abkhaz officials say the policy is
simply pushing Abkhazia closer to Russia, which already controls
Abkhazia’s borders and patrols its coastline.
Abkhazia’s economy minister, Kristina
Ozgan, said Thursday that Abkhazia would import 500 tons of diesel from
Russia to compensate for the tanker’s detention.
Georgia said Friday that the fate of the
ship, its cargo and crew were in the hands of the courts. Local media
reports have suggested that the cargo could be confiscated and auctioned.
San says he will open an international
court case citing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea if
authorities try to unload the ship and sell its $3 million to $4 million
worth of gasoline and diesel.
San, who said he had spoken with the
captain, currently being held with a crew of 13 Turks and 4 Azeris in
Batumi, said everyone who was on board the ship was well.
The captain faces up to 24 years in prison
if found guilty of smuggling and violating the Georgian ban on
unauthorized economic activity.
On Thursday, the Georgian coast guard said
it had detained a vessel carrying scrap metal from Abkhazia. It was
operating under a Cambodian flag.
08.24.2009
The Moscow Times
"Rosneft"
to deliver 500 tons of gasoline to Abkhazia next week
Sukhum, Next week
JSC "Rosneft" will deliver 500 tons of gasoline to Abkhazia, Christina
Ozgan the Minister of Economy of Abkhazia told Apsnypress today.
According to her, the available reserve of the combustive-lubricating
products in the republic is enough so far.
As to the rise in fuel
prices at some gas stations, according to Christina Ozgan, officers for
the Department on struggle against economic crimes and the State Trade
Inspection work on this.
The Minister of Economy
assured as soon as a new contingent of fuel arrives, the gasoline prices
will fall again.
08.21.2009 Official site of the president of
Abkhazia
President
Sergey Bagapsh visited the upper part of the Kodor Valley
Sukhum, The
President Sergey Bagapsh visited the upper part of the Kodor Valley, the
deputy head of the Governmental Information Department Alkhas Cholokua
reported.
The Head of the State was
accompanied by the Defense Minister Merab Kishmariya, the Minister of
Internal Affairs Otar Khetsiya, the acting Chairman of the State
Security Service Nugzar Samsoniya, the General Director of
“Abkhazavtodor” state-owned company Leonid Lolua, the Director of the "Abhazberegozashchita"
state-owned company Maxim Kharchilava, the President’s Plenipotentiary
in the Kodori valley Sergey Dzhonua, the head of the Gulripsha district
administration Mikhail Logua.
The President visited the
villages of Chkhalta, Azhara, Kuabchara where he examined bridges and
roads.
Sergey Bagapsh charged
the respective structures to restore bridges and roads where necessary.
In the village of Azhara Bagapsh visited the local ambulance station,
familiarized himself with the working conditions and promised the
personnel to help purchase an ambulance car and deliver medicines.
The President also
chaired a meeting on security issues, the Kodor Valley development and
support.
After the meeting Sergey
Bagapsh met with the participants of youth military-patriotic camp,
organized annually by the “Young Abkhazia” public organization. This
year the camp was organized in the upper part of the Kodor Valley. It
opened on July 10, and its grand closing took place today.
At the meeting with the
youth the President told about the political situation in Abkhazia and
around it. Speaking about the Head of the Government of the Russian
Federation Vladimir Putin’s visit to Abkhazia (on August 12), Bagapsh
said “this visit is a vivid example of development of friendship between
the two countries”.
Sergey Bagapsh took part
in the rewarding ceremony of the excelled military-patriotic camp
participants. Young people thanked the Head of the State for visiting
the camp.
Talking with the local
population the President especially emphasized a lot has yet to be done
for the development of this major region of Abkhazia”, Alkhas Cholokua
said.
08.21.2009 Official site of the president of
Abkhazia
Photo-exhibition
devoted to memory of Stalin’s repressions victims in Abkhazia held in
Central Showroom
Sukhum, A
photo-exhibition devoted to the memory of Stalin’s repressions victims
in Abkhazia is held in the Central Showroom. The author of the project
is a senior researcher for the Abkhaz State Museum Diana Akhba.
This exhibition is a
bigger project’s stage. Only a part of the materials collected by the
historian for ten months of work on the project is presented here. 56
photos, documents covering 1937-1938 tragic events are hung on the
stands. Visitors can also familiarize themselves with letters and
diaries of the Abkhaz GULAG prisoners and other documents.
“Out of a great number of
tragic events in the history of Abkhazia the early 30th – early 50th repressions
period was the most terrible as well as for the Soviet Union. When it is
a question of this tragic period they usually speak about 1937 because
repressions against “enemies of the people” in Abkhazia were at their
zenith that very year”, Diana Akhba said. The author of the exhibition
believes the exposition would be more striking and would reproduce the
30th atmosphere if it was exhibited in Nestor Lakoba’s museum which does
not function yet.
The author of the project
intends to hold photo-exhibitions devoted to Stalin’s repressions
victims in the Gudauta, Gagra, Ochamchira, Tkuarchal and Gal district.
Diana Akhba continues
work on collecting materials and evidence on Stalin-Beria’s repressions
in Abkhazia.
This project is supported
by the President of the Republic of Abkhazia.
08.19.2009 Official site of the president of
Abkhazia
Open appeal of the
president of the Republic of Abkhazia
Open appeal
To the Chairman of the United
Nations Security Council John Sawers,
To the European Union High
Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier
Solana,
To the President of the French
Republic Nicolas Sarkozy
On August 17, 2009 the Georgian
coast guards seized once again a merchant vessel going to Abkhazia
from Turkey. The tanker under the Turkish flag, bound for the port
of Sukhum, was detained in neutral waters and towed off to the
Georgian port of Poti. This year it is already the third case of
the Georgian piracy.
This incident testifies to
continuation of Georgia’s policy aimed at destabilization of the
situation in the region. At that it uses different methods of both
political and economic pressure on Abkhazia. Moreover, the
Georgian authorities do not also shun numerous acts of terrorism
one of which was committed by special services of Georgia on
August 12 in Gagra which resulted in 2 victims.
Abkhazia rested hopes on the
Medvedev-Sarkozy plan of August 12 and September 8, 2008, the
Geneva consultations on security and stability in the region, as
well as on the pentalateral mechanism on incidents prevention and
investigation on the border of Abkhazia with Georgia. However
Georgia’s provocative actions and silence of the international
community, the European Union first of all, which has repeatedly
stated it sees its task in normalization of the situation and
assistance in stabilization of the situation in the region, force
us to doubt these mechanisms efficiency.
Absence of an adequate assessment of
the official Tbilisi’s actions from the part of numerous
international observers and the international community is viewed
by the Abkhaz side as purposeful encouragement of the Georgia’s
aggressive policy which can lead to a new tension escalation.
Taking the above-stated into
consideration, Abkhazia asks you to give an adequate assessment of
the Georgia’s actions and to demand from it to stop destabilizing
the situation. Viability and the Abkhazia’s attitude to the
developed international mechanisms on conflicts prevention in the
region will depend on how much the international community can
influence Georgia with a view of non-admission of new provocations
and destabilization of the situation.
We also ask your assistance in
returning the vessel seized by the Georgian coast guards.
Otherwise the Abkhaz side reserves to itself the right to
undertake proportional measures on protecting the cargoes going to
Abkhazia, and lays the blame for possible consequences on the
Georgian side.
The President of the Republic of
Abkhazia
Sergey Bagapsh
August 18, 2009
08.18.2009 Official site of the president of
Abkhazia
Humanitarian cargo
arrived in Sukhum from twin city of Adapazar
Sukhum,
Humanitarian cargo from the twin city of Adapazar arrived in Sukhum the
other day: electric and usual wheelchairs, beds, go-carts and crutches,
as well as 10 boxes with badminton rackets and nets for young athletes,
Madonna Kutsnia, the chief of the Information Department of the Sukhum
Administration told “Apsnypress”.
According to the capital
administration’s head Alias Labakhua, wheelchairs will be basically
handed over to the "Inva-sodeistvie" Association. The rest of the things
so necessary for invalids will be handed over to the healthcare
department for city hospitals and the sports equipment is intended for
Kaldakhuara and Sukhum lyceums-boarding schools.
Receiving the
humanitarian aid, the Chairman of the "Inva-sodeistvie" Association
Alkhas Tkhagushev expressed gratitude to the Adapazar administration and
our Diaspora from this city’s Abkhaz cultural centre for the help
rendered.
“Now we have extremely
necessary electric chairs for the first time especially when they
started to create in Sukhum conditions for wheel chaired invalids.
“Thank everybody who helps us”, Tkhagushev said.
According to Madonna
Kutsnia, Sukhum and Turkish Adapazar have been on friendly terms since
1986. Last December the Adapazar’s Vice Mayor Yusuf Erdem visited the
capital of Abkhazia. At the meeting with the Sukhum Administration head
Alias Labakhua they discussed prospects of friendly contacts between the
cities.
08.18.2009 Official site of the president of
Abkhazia
Ministry
for Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia: Purposeful
encouragement of the Georgia’s aggressive policy by the international
community can lead to tension escalation
Sukhum, “Georgia
has once again seized a merchant vessel going to Abkhazia from Turkey.
On August 17, 2009 a tanker under the Turkish flag was seized by the
Georgian coast guards in neutral waters on the way to the port of Sukhum
and towed off to the Georgian port of Poti.
This incident is the
continuation of the Georgia’s policy aimed at destabilization of the
situation in the region with the use of all methods of political and
economic pressure on Abkhazia as well as numerous acts of terrorism one
of which was carried out by the Georgian special services on August 12
in Gagra which resulted in 2 victims.
It is necessary to
mention that these Georgia’s actions are carried out against a
background of numerous international observers’ presence. Absence of an
adequate assessment from the part of the International Community is
considered by the Abkhaz party as purposeful encouragement of the
Georgia’s aggressive policy which can lead to tension escalation.
Taking the above-stated
into consideration, the Abkhaz party reserves to itself the right to
undertake proportional measures to protect the cargoes going to Abkhazia
as well as lays the blame for possible consequences on the Georgian
party”.
08.17.2009 Official site of the president of
Abkhazia
Ministry
for Internal Affairs and the State Security Service of Abkhazia deny
information of Georgian mass-media on detention of three Ukrainian
citizens on espionage charges
Sukhum, The
Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Security Service of Abkhazia
deny information of the Georgian mass-media on last Friday’s detention
of three citizens of Ukraine on espionage charges.
The Georgian site "Our
Abkhazia" reported on detention of three citizens of Ukraine on Sunday,
August 16 in the settlement of Gantiadi near the Russian-Abkhaz border
on espionage charges. According to the Georgian site, “the citizens of
Ukraine are accused of collecting photo and video data for the purpose
of espionage and Antirussian propaganda”.
Law enforcement
authorities of Abkhazia called this information invention.
08.17.2009 Official site of the president of
Abkhazia
Council
of Europe condemns Abkhazia blast
Paris,
The Council of Europe secretary general condemned on Friday a recent
explosion in Abkhazia, which killed two and injured seven people, as a
terrorist act.
A bomb exploded in the republic of
Abkhazia during Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's visit on Wednesday, the
first visit by a senior Russian official since Moscow recognized the
region's independence after a brief war with Georgia last summer.
No one has claimed responsibility for the
explosion.
"These tragic events can only be described
as terrorism, and it is time for everyone in the South Caucasus to
recognize that terrorism is a crime and totally unacceptable in today's
Europe," Terry Davis said in a statement on the website of the
pan-European human rights body.
"A week ago, many international
organizations expressed concern that the rhetoric employed by
politicians in Georgia and Russia might lead to renewed violence on the
anniversary of the war between these countries. I am relieved that the
anniversary has passed without the escalation which worried us, but we
must condemn the explosion in Abkhazia in recent days," Davis said.
Relations between Russia and Georgia have
remained strained since last August's war over South Ossetia, which
Moscow also recognized, and tensions have persisted in the border area
fueling fears of a new conflict.
Putin's visit to Abkhazia was criticized
by the European Union and the United States as not contributing to
stabilization in the region, with both urging Russia to respect
Georgia's territorial integrity.
On Friday, Abkhazia marks the 17th
anniversary of an armed conflict with Georgia, one of the bloodiest in
the post-Soviet area. It erupted when Abkhazia broke away from Tbilisi
in 1992 after 60 years as a Soviet-era Georgian autonomy. Abkhazia has
maintained a de facto independence since September 1993.
08.14.2009
RIA Novosti
General
Zaitsev: Absolut liberation of the Abkhazia’s territory from georgian
military units became the Kodor operation's result
Sukhum,
The
scientifically-practical conference in the Defense Ministry of Abkhazia
was devoted to the first anniversary of the Upper Kodor liberation from
the Georgian troops.
On August 12, 2008 the Armed Forces of Abkhazia finished operation on
liberation the upper part of the Kodor valley from the Georgian military
units and approached the state border with Georgia.
The main report was given by the chief of the Joint Staff of the Armed
Forces of the Republic of Abkhazia Colonel General Anatoly Zaitsev.
The issues concerned the origin of the Upper Kodor problem, military and
political situation in summer of 2008, contact-free wars, preparation
and carrying out of the operation on the Upper Kodor liberation were
dwelt upon the report. The General told about this operation’s
historical and military meaning.
“The operation on the Upper Kodor liberation, carried out by the Armed
Forces of the Republic of Abkhazia, has been provoked by the US and some
European states military and political structures and lost “completely”
by the Georgia’s leadership and Armed Forces”, General Zaitsev noted in
his speech.
Absolute liberation of the Abkhazia’s territory from the Georgian
military units became a result of the operation; 1/10 of its territory,
864 sq. km. to be exact of the reserved land rich with natural resources
was returned under the country’s jurisdiction.
“The people of Abkhazia have inflicted the decisive defeat on Georgia,
have proved historical aspiration to independence and sovereignty”, the
General stressed.
“The operation in the Upper Kodor passed practically without bloodshed,
without human victims, but required effort and orderliness in actions of
all the country leaders, power bodies, population of Abkhazia”, Zaitsev
said.
“The August, 2008 events have once again demonstrated that only Russia
has been and remains the guarantor of peace on the Southern Caucasus”,
the General underlined.
08.14.2009 Official site of the president of
Abkhazia
“Blasts in Gagra and
Sukhum constitute links in one chain”, Deputy prosecutor general of
Abkhazia believes
Sukhum,
“It’s evident that blasts in the cities of Gagra and Sukhum on August 12
are links in one chain, deputy Prosecutor General of Abkhazia Beslan
Kvitsiniya told journalists today. He said that fragments taken from
sites in the two cities are "absolutely identical".
"We are left to suppose
it was done by Georgian special services, who still cannot put up with
the recognition of Abkhazia's independence", Kvitsiniya said.
The blast in Gagra is
regarded as terrorist act, and legal proceedings were instituted, the
investigative group, headed by the Prosecutor General of Gagra district,
was established.
A criminal case is also
instituted over the blast in Sukhum, no casualties in that incident, the
first deputy Prosecutor General said.
08.14.2009 Official site of the president of
Abkhazia
Scientifically-practical
conference devoted to the first anniversary of the Upper Kodor
liberation took place in the Defence Ministry of Abkhazia
Sukhum,
A
scientifically-practical conference in the Defense Ministry of
Abkhazia was devoted to the first anniversary of the Upper Kodor
liberation from the Georgian troops.
On August 12, 2008 the Armed Forces
of Abkhazia finished operation on liberation the upper part of the
Kodor valley from the Georgian military units and approached the
state border with Georgia.
The Defense Minister Mirab
Kishmariya, all deputy Ministers, commanders of all combat arms,
representatives of the Defense Ministry staffs and units
participated in the conference.
“Study and summarizing of the wars
and exercises experience is of great significance for development
of the military theory what allows to disclose rules and
tendencies of military science development. It is impossible to
solve new military-scientific problems without taking them into
account”, the Defense Minister Mirab Kishmariya said opening the
conference.
The main report of the chief of
Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Abkhazia
Colonel General Anatoly Zaitsev was devoted to the origin of the
Upper Kodor problem, military and political situation in summer of
2008, to contact-free wars, preparation and carrying out of the
operation on the Upper Kodor liberation. The General told about
this operation’s historical and military meaning.
08.14.2009 Official site of the president of
Abkhazia
Vladimir
Putin said at a meeting with oppostition's representatives about
Russia's non-interference in Abkhaz domestic affairs
Sukhum,
Some
opposition circles and mass-media assert one of the purposes of the
Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin’s
visit to Abkhazia was to look closely at the opposition’s leaders
hinting Moscow intends to start a dialogue with opposition to today’s
authorities of Abkhazia on the eve of the presidential election in
Abkhazia.
Commenting on these
statements in an interview to the agency the official representative for
the President of Abkhazia in mass-media Christian Bzhaniya said: “We
cannot and have no right to comment on the position of the Russian
Federation and personally the Chairman of the Government Vladimir Putin
on this question especially when Vladimir Putin at the meeting with the
opposition’s representatives said about Russia’ non-interference in
domestic affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia”.
Christian Bzhaniya cited
Vladimir Putin literally who speaking with representatives of opposition
circles said: “A multi-party system has developed in Abkhazia. We
welcome it. However I want to emphasize that the Government of Russia
works with the acting authorities in everyday activities”.
“In our opinion, this
answer is irrefragable”, the official representative for the President
of Abkhazia in mass-media Christian Bzhaniya said.
08.14.2009 Official site of the president of
Abkhazia
August 14 – Defender
of the Fatherland Day
Sukhum,
On
August 14 Abkhazia remembers defenders of the Fatherland. This day has
become a day of memory.
This day in all cities and districts of the Republic flowers and wreaths
will be laid to the monuments and tombs of the lost in the 1992-1993
Patriotic War of the people of Abkhazia.
On August 14, 1992 troops
of the State Council of Georgia entered Abkhazia. According to the
Tbilisi’s official version, troops were entered to protect Sochi-Inguri
railway unit. The Supreme Council of Abkhazia regarded the State Council
of Georgia’s actions as “prepared occupation of the territory of
sovereign Abkhazia”.
After the Georgian troops
have been entered military confrontation developed in the
Georgian-Abkhaz war started. Military operations lasted for 413 days and
ended by defeat of the Georgian armed forces. Up to 12 thousand
participated in that war. More than 2700 died, more than five thousand
were wounded.
08.14.2009 Official site of the president of
Abkhazia
Ministry
for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia warns representatives of
international organization about necessity "to refuse politically
incorrect rhetoric and support of cultural discrimination conducted by
Georgia"s government regarding Abkhazia"
Sukhum,
The
Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia expresses its
concern in connection with continued “demonstration of inadequate
negligence and political incorrectness from the part of international
humanitarian organizations”. According to Sergey Shamba the head of the
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, “despite numerous official appeals of the
Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia, international
humanitarian organizations continue to use in their official documents
wordings contradicting modern political realities and denying existence
of Abkhazia as a state”.
“Despite the official
appeal of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia with the request
to be extremely correct, the humanitarian organizations, nevertheless,
continue to use on official sites unacceptable anomalous geographical
toponyms of Abkhazia, moreover, use Georgia after comma after Abkhazia
(Abkhazia, Georgia), use combinations “Abkhazian separatists”, “de facto
authorities”, “breakaway regions of Georgia” and other rhetoric
unacceptable for the Abkhaz party”, says the statement from Sergey
Shamba released today.
The head of the Ministry
for Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia draws attention of representatives of
all the international organizations, including the UN organizations –
subdivisions and partners that “in the last report of the Secretary
General of the United Nations on the situation in a conflict zone
(S/2009/254 of May 18, 2009) any wordings belittling directly or by
implication the status of the Republic of Abkhazia as an independent
state have been omitted”.
Sergey Shamba hopes that
“this fact should be a model for representatives of international
organizations which should refuse in our opinion politically incorrect
rhetoric and support of cultural discrimination conducted by Georgia’s
government regarding Abkhazia”.
“In the light of the
developed conditions and in an effort of further fruitful interaction
the Abkhaz side asks more than insistently to respect the historical
heritage of the Abkhaz nation expressed, including in the correct use of
native toponymic names as well as to strictly adhere to the neutral and
weighed position choosing wordings”.
“Henceforth the Abkhaz
side will perceive this sort of neglect as demonstration of disrespect
to the sovereignty of our state. We consider mutual respect of the
parties a pledge of further successful cooperation and a basis for
building strong confidential relations”, the Minister for Foreign
Affairs of Abkhazia Sergey Shamba stated.
08.13.2009 Official site of the president of
Abkhazia
Statement
from the press-service for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Abkhazia
Sukhum,
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia
expresses its concern in connection with continued demonstration
of inadequate negligence and political incorrectness from the part
of international humanitarian organizations which, despite
numerous official appeals of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of
the Republic of Abkhazia, continue to use in their official
documents wordings contradicting modern political realities and
denying existence of Abkhazia as a state.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of
the Republic of Abkhazia ascertains regretfully that in the
reports, returns and other statements following the official
appeal of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Abkhazia of October 31, 2008 to the international humanitarian
organizations with the request to be extremely correct and to use
the correct way of writing Abkhaz toponyms, the humanitarian
organizations, nevertheless, continue to use on official sites
unacceptable anomalous geographical toponyms of Abkhazia, moreover,
use Georgia after comma after Abkhazia, use combinations
“Abkhazian separatists”, “de facto authorities”, “breakaway
regions of Georgia” and other rhetoric unacceptable for the Abkhaz
party.
Taking the opportunity the Ministry
for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia draws attention of
all the international organizations including the UN
organizations-subdivisions and partners that in the last report of
the Secretary General of the United Nations on the situation in a
conflict zone (S/2009/254 of May 18, 2009) any wordings belittling
directly or by implication the status of the Republic of Abkhazia
as an independent state have been omitted. We hope that this fact
should be a model for representatives of international
organizations which should refuse in our opinion politically
incorrect rhetoric and support of cultural discrimination
conducted by Georgia’s government regarding Abkhazia.
In the light of the developed
conditions and in an effort of further fruitful interaction the
Abkhaz side asks more than insistently to respect the historical
heritage of the Abkhaz nation expressed, including in the correct
use of native toponymic names as well as to strictly adhere to the
neutral and weighed position choosing wordings. Henceforth the
Abkhaz side will perceive this sort of neglect as demonstration of
disrespect to the sovereignty of our state.
We consider mutual respect of the
parties a pledge of further successful cooperation and a basis for
building strong confidential relations.
Yours faithfully,
Sergey Shamba
Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Abkhazia
08.13.2009 Official site of the president of
Abkhazia
Abkhazia and South
Ossetia appealed to U.S. PR agency
U.S. PR agency Saylor Company will be
engaged in image making of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in the West,
Reuters agency reports, referring to Director of Saylor Company, Mark
Saylor — former Chief Editor of The Los Angeles Times, and South
Ossetia’s ombudsman David Sanakoyev.
According to Abkhazian and Ossetian
officials, public relations experts will try to raise patterns of
perception on both Republics after August war. Contracts with PR agency
were signed in June, 2009. Abkhazia and South Ossetia will pay PR
experts $165-550/hour (conflict zone is 50% as much). At that, Saylor
Company will get no more than $30 000 a month.
08.13.2009
news.am
Statement of the
government of the Republic of Abkhazia
"The
Government of the Republic of Abkhazia denounces last week's reported
cyber attack on a Georgian blogger writing about the events leading up
to the August 2008 war. We think the Internetis a powerful tool for sharing information and
reaching beyond borders to encourage constructive debate.
"Our
government strongly supports the right to free speech. The posting by
the Georgian blogger was riddled with inaccuracies and falsehoods, but
it doesn't excuse an illegal effort on the Internet to silence him. We
will cooperate with any investigation into that incident.
"As
an independent nation, Abkhazia is working hard to build a democracy,
which includes the rights of its citizens to voice their opinions
freely. Our government welcomes all opportunities to engage with the
international community, including dialogue on the Internet. But our
efforts to interact with the global community continue to be stifled by
the policies of Georgia
and its western supporters to isolate our nation. We hope the world will
join us in encouraging Georgia to open the doors for a legitimate and
respectful discussion about a path to peace in our region."
08.13.2009 Official site of the president of
Abkhazia
Russia
denies planning to move Black Sea Fleet to Abkhazia
Sukhum, Moscow has no plans to
redeploy its Black Sea Fleet warships from Ukraine to Abkhazia, the
Russian defense minister said on Wednesday.
Russia's Black Sea Fleet uses a range of
naval facilities in Ukraine's Crimea, including the main base in
Sevastopol, as part of a 1997 agreement under which Ukraine agreed to
lease the bases to Russia until 2017.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko
announced last summer that Ukraine would not extend the lease of the
Sevastopol base beyond 2017, and urged the Russian fleet to start
preparations for a withdrawal.
"We will stay put in Sevastopol," Anatoly
Serdyukov said in reply to a question from a reporter.
He also said Moscow would not increase the
number of troops either in Abkhazia or South Ossetia, which Russia
recognized as independent last August after a five-day war with Georgia
over the latter.
Asked whether Russia was planning to
increase its military presence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Serdyukov
said, "No. Why? It is sufficient."
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who made a
one-day visit to Abkhazia on Wednesday, said earlier in the week that
Russia would allocate 15-16 billion rubles (over $465 million) in 2010
to strengthen Abkhazian borders, frontier troops and bases.
08.12.2009
RIA Novosti
Planned training
took place in Armed Forces of Abkhazia
Sukhum,
A planned command-staff training “Actions of the troops control
bodies at repulsing aggression of a probable enemy” took place n
the Armed Forces of the Republic of Abkhazia.
The deputy Chief of Joint Staff of
the Armed Forces of the Republic of Abkhazia, the chief of the
operational department Colonel Alexander Antipov told Apsnypress
that control bodies of the Defense Ministry, the Joint Staff, the
East Army Group, the Air Forces, staffs of military units, signal
office centers took part in the training.
During the training questions of
repulsing outside aggression as well as questions of defense and
counterattack were perfected.
According to Antipov, the task set
to raise the level of the control bodies’ skills was fulfilled.
“The training has been conducted
according to the plan of combat training for 2009. This year it
has coincided with the August events in the Kodor Valley
anniversary. If last year the Armed Forces of Abkhazia solved
problems of forcing the Georgian troops out of the Valley, today,
taking into account that Abkhazia is a peaceful country, the army
perfects the defense questions”, Colonel Antipov said.
08.11.2009 Official site of the president of
Abkhazia
“Georgia’s
aggression was inevitable” – Abkhazian President
Had Georgia achieved its plans to subdue
South Ossetia, Abkhazia could have been the next target, Abkhazian
President Sergey Bagapsh told RT in an exclusive interview.
RT: The
Caucasian Republic of Abkhazia is preparing to celebrate what the locals
call their first real independence anniversary. Mr. President, it’s been
a year since the South Ossetian conflict. The Abkhazian army also fought
against Georgian forces in the Kodor Gorge in August 2008. Just how
important was that operation?
Sergey Bagapsh: You know that under an
agreement with South Ossetia and the Republic of Transdniester, which
was reached long before those events, we had our own commitments on how
to act in case Georgia attacked Abkhazia or South Ossetia.
We knew only too well that Georgia’s
aggression was inevitable because its leaders could no longer pursue
their external and internal policies without that aggression. That is
why after the fighting against South Ossetia, Abkhazia acted according
to its plans. We besieged the Kodor Gorge and advanced our troops to
the border with Georgia near the town of Gal.
RT: On
August 26 last year, Russia recognized Abkhazia’s independence. Did you
feel the support from Moscow? And what has changed the lives of ordinary
people since then?
S.B.: You know, we had felt Russia’s
support even prior to last August’s conflict. Russia is the closest
country to us. It’s no secret that 85 % of Abkhazians are citizens of
Russia. On the eve of such an anniversary – a year since the recognition
of Abkhazia’s independence, and a year after the events in South Ossetia –
I would once again like to thank the Russian Federation and its leaders,
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in the first place, for courage,
bravery and adherence to principles. I would also like to thank Vladimir
Putin and other leaders who were not indifferent to the fate of Abkhazia
and South Ossetia
A year has passed and what have we
achieved?
Our main achievement is that today we are
protected. We have political stability; and a step-by-step transition of
our people from a pre-war period – or a period prior to the Georgian
intrusion into Abkhazia – to a period of creative activities, the
construction of statehood and an economic recovery that’s taking place.
These are the most important things today. And we don’t always find
ourselves in an easier position than we used to be because we are facing
many problems. But as I’ve already mentioned, we are signing a lot of
contracts with the Russian Federation. The first treaty that we signed
was on military assistance. Then, there were agreements with Russian
ministries and agencies which are aimed at development, economic revival
and improving people’s living standards.
RT: How
possible is it that other countries will follow Russia’s footsteps and
recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia? And what countries are they likely
to be?
S.B.: I think that the process of
recognition is never easy. Let’s take the former Soviet Union, for
example. Most countries began recognizing it as a state by 1931. History
knows many such precedents. So, we are not trying to accelerate the
recognition process. The most important thing for us is that we’ve been
recognized by Russia because it’s the world’s largest country, a
Security Council member and a mighty and powerful state. Nicaragua has
also recognized us. We are very grateful to its president. The most
important thing today is how we are going to develop our democratic
values and build a rule-of-law state. That will largely determine
recognition from Western countries. As for the CIS states and people who
are our close friends, I think that this period of calm and grinding-in,
when countries are waiting to see what’s going to happen to Abkhazia and
South Ossetia, will pass. This process is closer but so far we shouldn’t
hope for any recognition from all countries, including those in Europe.
RT: You
signed treaties on diplomatic and military cooperation with Russia. How
will they affect Abkhazians?
S.B.: The direct result of these treaties
is that a Russian military grouping – of the Defence Ministry and the
military – has been deployed in Abkhazia. We also keep our own forces on
high alert. We’ve made some cuts in the armed forces but on the whole we
have enough troops to protect our security. These are the most important
treaties and we reached them for one single purpose – so as to avoid a
repeat of last August’s events, and so that no one has a temptation to
solve any problems by force. I think that our main goal has been
achieved: we have stability and we have peace, which should be
maintained and guarded.
RT: You say
you’ll take part in the next presidential election in December this year.
What are the key points of your program?
S.B.: We’ve achieved our main goal. We’ve
managed to attain it. We’ve gained independence; we’ve liberated the
Kodor Gorge. We are facing the next five-year period, and our tasks
will be to step up our economic development, attract new investment to
Abkhazia and establish order in all bodies of state power – starting
from the Interior Ministry to the tax authorities. In other words, we
used to justify ourselves by saying that the Abkhazian economy couldn’t
grow because of the difficult internal situation, because we had to
spend a lot on weapons and the army, and we didn’t know whether a war
was going to break out tomorrow (on which our fears had some grounds).
All through the post-war period since
1993, our people had been sleeping on submachine guns without knowing
when Georgian aggression was going to start. Of course, it was difficult
to think about any creative development under those circumstances. But
today we have a different program. It’s a program of how to quickly get
out of the situation in which we are now and start rapid economic
growth. We have all the conditions ready for it. There are good
macroeconomic projects: it’s the development of railroads, the energy
sector and the airport; it’s our shipping and ports, the transit of
cargo via Abkhazia and their re-export. These are big projects that will
bring huge revenues to the state budget which, in turn, will be
channeled into the social and economic development of our republic.
RT: In
times of financial crisis, your opponents often criticize you for
pro-Russian economic policies which, in their opinion, may harm the
locals. How do you think Abkhazia benefits from cooperating with its
bigger neighbor?
S.B.: I don’t think that any politician
has reached a state of mind to say that Russia’s attitude to Abkhazia
goes beyond any limits and that there’s a kind of danger for Abkhazia.
There’s no danger. It’s human nature to forget about past dangers and
fears and to start getting used to a better life. Somehow, and I don’t
know why, my opponents have forgotten what kind of threat was posed by
Georgia and what consequences that could that have for us. I don’t know
why, but we are starting to forget that peacekeeping forces were
stationed in Abkhazia for many years, and they lost 109 peacekeepers in
clashes on the Georgian-Abkhazian border. We’ve lost about 2,800 of our
own people over the peacekeeping period that lasted since the end of the
war: some tripped on mines; others died in terrorist acts, were murdered
or killed in robberies. And I think it’s a bit outrageous to say now
that Russia has embraced Abkhazia, it’s going to buy up and grab
everything in its territory. I think it’s wrong.
RT: In
2014, the Russian city of Sochi – which is right on the border with
Abkhazia – will host the Winter Olympics. You’ve said many times that
the games will be very important for your republic. Why is that?
S.B.: It’s very important because we are
ready to supply to the Sochi Olympic facilities whatever we can produce.
This includes sand-gravel aggregate, the production and delivery of
road-building materials. This is also a chance to ensure annual revenues
worth 300 or 700 million for the state budget. It’s good money for us.
That is why today we are trying to repair and renovate our railroad
connecting Russia with Sukhum, some 130 kilometers away from Sochi, and
start transporting gravel, sand and other materials necessary for the
Olympic facilities in Sochi.
RT: The
United Nations mission has now officially stopped its operations in your
republic. Is it possible that security in the bordering Gal district
will deteriorate as a result?
S.B.: I don’t think that it’s going to
have any kind of impact. The U.N. peacekeepers were just unarmed
monitors. They watched the situation and reported on what they saw.
Russia was the one which carried the entire burden of the peacekeeping
mission in Abkhazia all those years. It was Russian soldiers. That is
why today the border there is reinforced by Russian and Abkhazian border
guards. Therefore, the withdrawal of the U.N. mission will have a
minimal effect on the possibility of any new aggression by Georgia.
Another thing is that we were ready to work with the United Nations
mission in the format in which it used to operate in Abkhazia. It’s the
provision of humanitarian aid and the monitoring of the situation on the
border. We wanted them to stay but only on condition that this mission
would be in Abkhazia and not in Georgia. They didn’t understand us and
turned down our proposal. Well, “no” means “no.” We made our excuses,
and the mission stopped its operations.
RT: The Gal district has a predominantly Georgian population and thousands of
refugees were allowed to return from Georgia. Can we expect more
displaced people returning to their homes in other regions of Abkhazia?
S.B.: We must be one of the very few
countries in the world that has allowed so many refugees to return to
their homes in the Gal region after such a conflict. No other country
has ever done that. Perhaps experts from the European Union and PACE
could tell me how many displaced Serbs have returned to Kosovo in Serbia.
They could also draw some comparisons. We’ve liberated the Kodor Gorge
and we are returning the ‘Svan’ people who used to live there. We didn’t
touch a single home and we didn’t burn anything because we consider
ourselves to be a civilized nation. We want to build a civilized society.
But returning refugees to the entire
territory of Abkhazia is practically impossible today. That would have
meant another war because the memories of the past are still fresh and
strong. I think that it would be better to measure this issue
differently – instead of rearming Georgia and pouring huge sums of money
into its rearmament (and these are really considerable sums) European
and non-European countries should accumulate this huge money and spend
it on helping refugees who should become adapted to the social
environment in Georgia. They need help. They’ve suffered from the war.
But any talk about their return today is simply unrealistic.
RT: There
are thousands of Russian tourists who visit Abkhazia’s Black Sea resorts.
Has there been any increase in numbers this year and how important is
tourism for the republic’s economy?
S.B.: The biggest number of tourists
visited Abkhazia in 2007 – almost one million people. Today we’ve almost
reached 2007 levels. The number of cars entering Abkhazia has also
increased, because families prefer traveling by car. Fewer people go by
train or fly. It’s economically sound to go by car. About 14,000 cars
entered Abkhazia this year, which is even more than in 2007. We can see
that by the consumption of bread and petrol, and our sanitary services
feel it just as well. It’s good because tourism is a driving force that
pulls the rest of Abkhazia’s economy with it, stimulating the
development of the agriculture sector, other producers, the service
sector and additional services. Besides, all this creates opportunities
for local people to earn more money which they need. And we support that.
RT: Mr.
Bagapsh, thank you for your time with us today.
08.09.2009
Russia Today
Russia to develop
full-scale relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia
Sukhum,
“Someone may like it or not”, but Russia will continue to develop
full-scale relations with both South Ossetia and Abkhazia", the
President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev declared.
"For us, it is not a matter of
opportunism, but a matter of decisions that we have made and that
we will implement”, he said in conversation with authors of the
film “In August of 2008”.
"I have never been to Tskhinval
before my first official presidential visit to a new country, the
Republic of South Ossetia. The situation there is very complex,
indeed. The population of the Republic is very poor, and lots of
problems and challenges have accumulated over almost two decades
of the blockade. However, both the Republic's people and
leadership are willing to overcome these hardships”, Medvedev said.
Russia will help them to solve these problems, he emphasized.
"We will help them in addressing
these problems, we will implement support and aid programs and
develop investment projects. We will guarantee the security of
this nation and help them to ensure their safety, as well as
assist them in addressing a number of pressing economic issues",
the Russian leader stressed.
"So, basically all these subjects
are now within our common competence, as South Ossetia and Russia
have made a special treaty, a treaty of friendship, mutual
assistance and military cooperation, and now we are going to deal
with all these respective matters", Medvedev concluded.
08.08.2009 Official site of the president of
Abkhazia
Situation
stable in S Ossetia after RF recognises independence – Putin
Sochi, After Russia recognised
South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the situation in the region stabilised,
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said.
Meeting journalists on Saturday on the
occasion of the 1st anniversary of Georgia’s aggression against South
Ossetia, Putin said, “Russia has no right to and couldn’t leave South
Ossetia and Abkhazia in the lurch and it took a right decision – to
defend the peoples of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and recognise their
independence.”
“In my view, after this happened the
situation stabilised. It became more stable, clear and understandable.
The formed legal base allows us to develop relations with Abkhazia and
South Ossetia like independent states without looking around who likes
it or not. On this base we’re building relations in the economy and
social welfare, maintain interstate contacts, and ensure stability and
security,” Putin said.
“Thus we intend to do within the existing
agreements and treaties,” the Russian prime minister said.
08.08.2009
Itar-Tass
EU understands it
cannot turn its back on direct dialogue with Abkhazia and South Ossetia
Brussels,
The European Union can not turn its back on direct dialogue with South
Ossetia and Abkhazia, Russia's envoy to the EU said.
"Today everyone in
the European Union understands that they can not turn their backs on
direct dialogue with the leaders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. As far
as I know, discussions are continuing in the EU on how to arrange them,"
Vladimir Chizhov said during a press conference with Russian journalists
on the eve of Georgia's attack on South Ossetia.
According to
Chizhov, “that dialogue (between the EU and the leaders of South Ossetia
and Abkhazia) is taking place as part of the Geneva talks, where the EU
is the co-chair”.
"Regardless of
whether or not they recognize their independence, the European Union
continues working in 'unrecognized' territories," Chizhov said,
pointing to Kosovo, Cyprus and Taiwan as examples.
With regard to EU
relations with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's regime, Chizhov
said that it was "somewhat sober". "Overall, they differ from those we
see in Washington. If you've noticed, Saakashvili is not invited to most
European capitals on official visits," he said.
Chizhov said
several months ago "it became clear to all serious people in the EU" why
Russia reacted as it did during the conflict, adding that there are no
questions anymore regarding Georgia's aggression. "The disproportionate
use of force isn't even discussed any more. What is discussed is why did
you recognize the republics."
Besides Russia,
Nicaragua has recognized the independence of both Abkhazia and South
Ossetia.
Chizhov said that
Moscow expects to continue cooperation with the EU in order to establish
peace and stability in the region.
"We welcome the
EU's decision to continue its observer mission," he said, adding: "Russia,
naturally, is not pressuring (EU members) politically to recognize the
republics."
08.07.2009
RIA Novosti
Russia to
continue to help
Abkhazia and South Ossetia
Moscow,
Russia will continue to provide to the nations of South Ossetia
and Abkhazia through socio-economic support and to help guard the
boders , the official representative for the Ministry for Foreign
Affairs of the Russian Federation Andrey Nesterenko said at a
briefing in Moscow.
"Russia will continue to provide to
the brother nations of South Ossetia and Abkhazia through
large-scale socio-economic support, in particular to rebuild
housing and civilian infrastructure, and also to help guard their
state borders."
He said Russian troops in the region
are ensuring the republics' security, and creating the necessary
conditions for their development.
However, Nesterenko highlighted the
"many challenges and problems" facing Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
08.06.2009
RIA Novosti
Minister
for Foreign Affairs Sergey Shamba met with representatives of
international organization Norwegian Refugee Council
A meeting with the
Minister for Foreign Affairs Sergey Shamba and representatives of the
international organization Norwegian Refugee Council – the NRC regional
director for Central Asia and Caucasus Madam Margaret Vikki and the NRC
head in Abkhazia Mr. Igor Shantefo took place on August 5, 2009.
According to the
spokesman for the foreign policy department, at the meeting Margaret
Vikki introduced Anna Povrzhenic who now assumes office of the NRC
Manager in Abkhazia. From 2007 to 2009 Mrs. Povrzhenich headed the
international organization World Vision in Abkhazia.
During the meeting
the NRC representatives shared information and discussed the issues
connected with projects on schools and apartment houses restoration
realized now in the territory of Abkhazia.
Sergey Shamba in
turn assured the quests he would render help and assistance in solving
problems with the projects realized by the organization.
08.06.2009 Official site of the president of
Abkhazia
UN Office for Human
Rights ends operation in Abkhazia
Sukhum, The United Nations Office
for Human Rights has completed its mission in Abkhazia. Its head Richard
Komenda has paid a farewell visit to the Abkhazian Foreign Ministry.
He thanked the Abkhazian Foreign Minister
Sergei Shamba for close cooperation and support for the Office during
its operation in Abkhazia. In turn, Shamba also thanked the United
Nations Office for Human Rights for its work in the difficult postwar
years of the republic’s development.
The Abkhazian foreign minister said that
he hoped that cooperation with the United Nations would continue in a
different format with account taken of new realities.
The U.N. mission ended its work in
the area of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict on June 16, following a
decision by the United Nations Security Council.
08.06.2009
Itar-Tass
Russian
troop numbers to reach 3,000 in S. Ossetia, Abkhazia
Moscow, Russia's deputy foreign
minister said on Wednesday that Russia's military contingent in the
republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia will number 1,500 personnel in
each republic by the end of the year.
The Russian General Staff had earlier said
3,700 personnel would be deployed in each South Ossetia and Abkhazia to
protect the region, but in mid-June Gen. Nikolai Makarov said the figure
was "too large" and it would be reduced.
"Presently there are some 1,000 Russian
military personnel in Abkhazia and up to 800 in South Ossetia. By the
end of the year there will be 1,500 Russian military personnel in each
of the republics," Grigory Karasin said during a press conference at RIA
Novosti.
Karasin also said Russia has allocated 10
billion rubles ($321.41 mln) to South Ossetia for projects to rebuild
infrastructure destroyed during the August war with Georgia.
"The Russian government allocated 10
billion rubles in 2008-2009 for reconstruction projects," Karasin said.
The deputy minister said that some 400
buildings in South Ossetia are currently under construction with the
work due to be completed by the end of the year.
Last August's war saw Russian forces
expel invading Georgian troops from South Ossetia and force them deep
into Georgia amid accusations on both sides of human rights abuses.
Russia eventually withdrew from Georgian territory and recognized the
independence of both South Ossetia and Abkhazia on August 26.
08.05.2009
RIA Novosti
Russia not plan to
reinforce troops in South Ossetia, Abkhazia
Moscow, The Russian Armed Forces
General Staff does not plan to reinforce Russian troops in Abkhazia and
South Ossetia, Deputy Chief of the General Staff Colonel General Anatoly
Nogovitsyn told a press conference on Wednesday.
“Presently it is not necessary to
reinforce the current contingents, their numerical strength is specified
in the bilateral agreements. We are not planning to build up our
groupings soon,” Nogovitsyn said.
08.05.2009
Itar-Tass
Commision
on political and legal expert examination of the law "About change to
the law of the republic of Abkhazia" "About the citizenship of the
republic of Abkhazia" formed
In an effort to make
political and legal expert examination of the Law of the Republic of
Abkhazia "About change to the law of the Republic of Abkhazia " About
citizenship of the Republic of Abkhazia" passed by the Parliament on
July, 31, the President Sergey Bagapsh ordered to form a commission.
The commission headed by
the Public Chamber Secretary Natella Aqaba includes:
• Konstantin Ozgan- the Chairman of the Council of Elders;
• Socrat Dzhindzholiya - the Director of the Abkhaz branch of the
"Institute for Eurasian researches" Fund;
• Safarbei Mikanba - the Public Prosecutor General;
• Valery Gurdzhua - the Chairman of the Arbitration Court;
• Dmitry Shamba - the Plenipotentiary of the President in the National
Assembly;
• Lyudmila Hodzhashvili - the Minister of Justice;
• Arda Inal-ipa - a member of the Public Chamber;
• Liana Kvarcheliya - the codirector of the Center of Humanitarian
Programs;
• Sergey Smyr - the dean of the Abkhaz State University law faculty.
The commission will give
recommendations till August 10, 2009.
08.05.2009 Official site of the president of the Republic of
Abkhazia
Sergei
Shamba: we do not trust the Americans
In an
interview to RIA Novosti, Abkhazian Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba
discusses the role of the United States in the war in South Ossetia, the
effectiveness of a European Union peacekeeping mission in Georgia, and
whose laws Belarusian citizens should respect in Sukhum.
Question: Last week,
there were reports that American observers might join the EU mission in
Georgia. EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby
followed up by saying that a discussion could be held in the fall. What
is your attitude to this idea?
Answer: Our attitude is
distinctly negative. First, because the idea does not stem from the
mission’s mandate worded in keeping with the agreements reached by the
Russian and French presidents – the mandate provides for no American
participation. Second, the question can be examined if there is a common
wish to expand the mission, but we do not consider it advisable because
we see no additional factor of stability in an American presence. On the
contrary, we have always emphasized that the U.S. bears considerable
responsibility for the events that took place in August 2008 in South
Ossetia. Therefore, we do not trust the Americans. All these years the
U.S. has been arming, equipping and training Georgian troops and
continues to do so, again restoring military infrastructure, and again
preparing the Georgian army for new acts of aggression. This sticks out
like a sore thumb.
What were the American instructors
training the Georgian army for here, on Abkhazia’s territory, at the
upper end of the Kodor Gorge? For an attack on Abkhazia. We are
perfectly aware that attempts to instill a new combative spirit in the
Georgian army will create a new threat in the region. And we do not see
the American side as a factor contributing to stability in the area.
Therefore we are absolutely opposed to this idea, and will not let
Americans in, at least on our territory.
What is more, we said straight away that
attempts to include the Americans in the EU mission are also calling in
question our participation in the five-country meeting to prevent and
investigate incidents involving Abkhazia, Russia, Georgia, the EU and
UN.
This idea also casts doubt over our role
in the Geneva process. Besides, a recent decision extended the EU
mission in Georgia in its former format for one more year and provided
for no American presence.
Q: What do you think of
the effectiveness of the EU mission in the region?
A: So far, we see no
effectiveness in the moves taken by the European Union in Georgia. We
have repeatedly stated that the EU does not react in any way to
Georgia’s military build-up on the border and to its creation of new
threats. So we do not consider the EU’s steps to be effective. But joint
actions and complaints that can be voiced during five-party meetings may
prove effective. Time will tell.
Q: How can one view
recommendations by the Foreign Ministry of Belarus to its citizens to
observe Georgian laws in Abkhazia and South Ossetia?
A: Unfortunately, the
spokesman for the Belarusian Foreign Ministry has not been very correct
and proper in his statement. Even Germany and Poland, which also made
similar recommendations, did it in milder form – German diplomats did
not recommend their citizens to visit Georgia after Abkhazia. The point
is that the Belarusian diplomat’s statement was caused by circumstances
in which the Georgian leadership placed Belarusian citizens, when it
began detaining and arresting people because they had previously visited
Abkhazia. Belarus had to warn its citizens of this danger, but did not
do it tactfully enough.
There is already a statement by the
foreign minister of Belarus, however, who said that the issue of
recognizing Abkhazia is not off the agenda yet.
Q: Recently, Commander of
Airborne Troops of Russia Vladimir Shamanov said that Russia would help
Abkhazia and South Ossetia to set up small aviation units. What do you
think of Tbilisi’s threats to go to the international court if Russian
aircraft fly over Abkhazia and South Ossetia?
A: We do not generally
heed such statements; they mean little to us. We are developing
relations with Russia in the military, economic and other fields. As far
as our security is concerned, we will do everything necessary for the
safety of our country. We have concluded an agreement on the joint
protection of the border. The border will have cutting edge technology.
Before long we will sign an agreement on a military base and many other
accords. In this sense, deployment of small aviation units in Abkhazia
is of great interest to us.
The main thing is that we do not threaten
anyone. There has not been a single act of aggression from us in the
entire history of our relations with Georgia. Georgia, on the other
hand, has committed four such acts against Abkhazia since the breakdown
of the Soviet Union.
08.04.2009
RIA Novosti
Plenipotentiary
of President of Abkhazia in the Gal district Ruslan Kishmariya denies
georgian “IMEDI” TV
Channel’s information on detention of 20 georgians by russian military
The Plenipotentiary of
the President of Abkhazia in the Gal district Ruslan Kishmariya is not
aware of the events spread by the Georgian “Imedi” TV company.
“I hear for the first
time that Russian military men have detained 20 Georgians in the village
of Otobaya on the Georgian-Abkhaz border. It is an invention. We would
know about it”, Kishmariya said.
According to the TV
company, military men made Georgians going to Zugdidi (Western Georgia)
to sell agricultural products there get out of the bus. The driver was
beaten and taken to the police station of the city of Gal.
“It’s not the first time
when Georgian journalists spread biased, doubtful information. They are
masters of invention”, Kishmariya said.
According to the First
Deputy Chairman of the State Security Service Nugzar Samsoniya,
yesterday, on August 3, late at night, in the village of Pichora of the
Gal district three Georgians tried to get to Abkhazia from Georgia. They
were detained by law and order bodies for illegal crossing the frontier.
A criminal case was initiated. The investigation is conducted.
08.04.2009 Official site of the president of the Republic of
Abkhazia
Nugzar
Ashuba: It
is a question of issuing passports to the Gal inhabitants who have
returned before 2005 according to the decision of Abkhazia on unilateral
return of refugees to the GAl district
Apsnypress news agency
asked the Speaker of the Parliament Nugzar Ashuba to comment on the
changes made to the law “About citizenship of the Republic of Abkhazia”
last Friday, July 31.
Apsnypress: Does
the amendment to the law “About citizenship of the Republic of Abkhazia”
mean that all the inhabitants Gal district will obtain Abkhaz
citizenship?
Nugzar Ashuba: In
no circumstances. It means only those inhabitants of the Gal district
who did not participate in military operations, did not second and do
not second the change of the sovereign status of the Republic of
Abkhazia by anticonstitutional methods; do not call for violent change
of foundations of the constitutional system of the republic; did not
struggle and do not struggle by anticonstitutional methods against the
existing political system; are not connected with terrorist activity can
be considered citizens of Abkhazia. And it is a question of people who
had to leave repeatedly places of permanent residence, but according to
the decision on unilateral return of refugees to the Gal district
returned to their houses and now live there. They can receive the
passport of the citizen of the Republic of Abkhazia.
There will be no public
excitement because of receiving passports in the Gal district. The
process is slow enough there. For today 2 thousand people out of 4
thousand who have submitted applications have received Abkhaz passports.
Documents of the others are on approval. The State Security Service
scrutinizes all the documents.
I want to specify once
again that it is a question of issuing passports to the inhabitants of
the Gal district who have returned before 2005. And they are no more
than 50 thousand people according to our information.
I wish to cite other
figures: for example, about 7 thousand inhabitants of the Gal district
took part in the parliamentary elections in 1996. And in 1999 on the
referendum and presidential elections there were 13 thousand people on
the list. In 2004 no more than 8 thousand people participated in the
presidential elections out of 14, 5 thousand of Gal inhabitants
inscribed in the list for voting. It is not a question of tens, hundreds
thousand people living in the Gal district.
In the law it is a
question of people who have returned to the places of former permanent
residence in the Gal district before the new law “About citizenship of
the Republic of Abkhazia” (before 2005 - Apsnypress) was passed. The
issues of citizenship of those Gal inhabitants who came after 2005 or
will come, will be considered by general order, that is they should live
10 years in the republic, receive residence permit and so on.
It would like to remind
that according to the law about citizenship which was passed in 1993,
actually all inhabitants of the Gal district were citizens of our
country. We haven’t done anything new, we have only specified, who
exactly can apply for citizenship.
According to the change
we made to the law about citizenship, passports will be issued to the
people living in the Gal district if they meet all those above-mentioned
requirements, freely, upon applying. At that they should refuse the
Georgian citizenship in written form if they have one.
Apsnypress: Is it
enough to indicate in the application that they refuse the Georgian
citizenship? Is any documentation that a person is deprived of the
citizenship of Georgia required?
N. Ashuba: We
thought of it in principle, but it is unreal. Georgia will not confirm
officially refusal of the citizenship.
I would like to remind
that according to the legislation, the Abkhaz and the Abazins,
regardless of their place of residence and a citizenship of a foreign
state are acknowledged citizens of Abkhazia. But they, until they arrive
in Abkhazia and receive our passport, actually cannot have all the
rights of the citizen of Abkhazia.
The inhabitants of the
Gal district, who are acknowledged citizens of Abkhazia, should also
address to respective bodies, to submit an application and to indicate
that they refuse the Georgian citizenship to possess all the rights and
obligations of the citizen of the Republic of Abkhazia.
If later it is revealed
that he has kept back the Georgian citizenship and has hidden the
Georgian passport, we have a procedure of deprivation of our citizenship.
Apsnypress: the
Parliamentary commission recommended to consider amendments to the law
“About citizenship of the Republic of Abkhazia” together with amendments
to the election legislation to exclude gamble with #9 form, Soviet
passports and to make Abkhaz national passport the only document giving
the right to vote.
N. Ashuba: When we
created the Commission of 12, we included there deputies as well as
experts, opposition’s representatives. The majority of the Commission’s
members, except for two who had a separate opinion, considered that
respectable inhabitants of the Gal district have the right to receive
Abkhaz citizenship. And the second Commission’s recommendation was to
carry out presidential elections in the Republic of Abkhazia by Abkhaz
passports. It concerns not only the Gal district, but all Abkhazia.
We have taken into
consideration the Commission’s recommendations. But before summer recess
we had time to prepare only changes to the law about citizenship. As to
the amendment to the law about presidential elections a commission was
given to the Committee on Legislation, Judicial-Legal reform, State
Building. And the opposition’s deputies were told, sit down, draft the
bill, put forward proposals and the Parliament will consider them in
September-October. We still have time till December. What will be
decided, I cannot know yet.
If we make the passport
of the citizen of the Republic of Abkhazia the only document by which
people can vote a huge number of citizens of our country cannot do the
constitutional duty. They are not only inhabitants of the Gal district,
but also of all other districts of the republic because a lot of our
citizens have not yet received national passports. Only 134 thousand
people have received Abkhaz passports so far. For example, in the
Gudauta district 7 thousand people haven’t yet received passports. Can
we neglect them? If someone considers both human rights and the
Constitution can be infringed he can take such a decision. I myself
stand for voting by Abkhaz passports because there will be more order
this way. Now a lot of people have several passports on hand: in one he
is registered in Tkuarchal, in another in Sukhum. Just try to understand,
where exactly he will vote on the Election Day. All of us both
opposition and the authorities should try to propagandize the Abkhaz
passport for the maximum number of people to have them till December. I
speak about all Abkhazia, not only about the Gal district.
On the other hand, all
citizens are equal before the law. If we considered someone a citizen,
he has a constitutional right to vote, even if he does not have the
Abkhaz passport.
I consider accusations of
the authorities that they want to forge something and consequently allow
to vote by different documents absolutely groundless. If we try and we
issue passports to the majority of our citizens then we will write in
the election law that it is possible to vote only by the national
passports of the citizen of the Republic of Abkhazia.
08.03.2009 Official site of the president of the Republic of
Abkhazia
Speaker of
Parliament Nugzar Ashuba met with First Vice Speaker of Federation
Council of the Russian Federation Alexander Torshin
Today the Speaker
of the Parliament Nugzar Ashuba met with the First Vice Speaker of the
Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
Alexander Torshin who is having a rest in Abkhazia these day.
Ashuba and Torshin
discussed issues of development of legal basis of the Republic of
Abkhazia. Nugzar Ashuba told the guest about the structure of the
parliament and the system of legislation of the Republic of Abkhazia.
The First Vice
Speaker of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation expressed an
opinion on democratic character of the Constitution of the Republic of
Abkhazia, on “its conformity with the European standards”.
At the meeting it
was also a question of Abkhazia’s prospects in connection with the
recognition of its independence by Russia, of assistance in building a
modern democratic state.
08.03.2009 Official site of the president of the Republic of
Abkhazia
