Today president of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh held meeting on Republic of Abkhazia's military doctrine

Sukhum, The meeting was attended by vice-president A. Z. Ankuab, Prime Minister S. M. Shamba, Defense Minister M. B. Kishmaria, Foreign Minister M. H. Gunjia, State Security Service Chairman A. G. Bzhania, acting Interior Minister R. Z. Gablaya, deputy heads of Presidential Administration Z. F. Kajaya and A. M. Adleiba, State Protective Service Chief A. A. Bobua, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and National Security G. H. Samanba.

Opening the meeting, the President pointed to the necessity of working out and approving a Military Doctrine of the state. According to Sergey Bagapsh, the document should consist of two basic parts: political and military.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs was entrusted with working out the political component of the doctrine. It should submit its proposals to the working group in the near future. The Security Council was entrusted to coordinate activities of the working group. The working group will include representatives of the Presidential Administration, the Parliament, and the Cabinet, the Defense Ministry, the State Security Service and other departments.

There was an exchange of opinions on the issue under discussion.

08.31.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 “Mothers of Abkhazia for peace and social justice” movement support resumption of missing persons commission's work

Sukhum, The chairman of the “Mothers of Abkhazia for peace and social justice” movement Guli Kichba believes the government of the republic should change its attitude to the parents of the fighters reported missing in the 1992-1993 Patriotic War of the Abkhaz Nation. In her interview to "Apsnypress" given on the International Day of the Disappeared on August 30, Kichba said she shared grief and deep sorrow of mothers of the whole world who also suffer from the pain of ignorance of their children's destiny.

Kichba ascertained regretfully that in Abkhazia parents of the missing persons are reckoned among families of the dead. “It is completely incorrect. After all 17 years have passed, and in the country gradually getting on its feet, one could institute personal allowances for this category of people”, she said.

The mother of the missing Hero of Abkhazia Arzamet Tarba Guli Kichba considers the fact that the state commission on missing persons to the President of the Republic of Abkhazia was liquidated to be also incorrect. “Nothing is done in this direction. But after all our organization ( Mothers of Abkhazia for peace and social justice) participated three times in the meetings of the Abkhaz and Georgian parties on this issue. The Abkhaz commission was headed by Otar Kakalia then, and the Georgian one by Vladimir Dobordzhgenidze whose son had fought and been killed in Abkhazia. The commission worked, and we had a hope”, she said.

Guli Kichba said two months before State Security Service representatives had told her that near the village of Achadara in the Sukhum district local residents and “Hallo Trust” representatives who cleared the territory of mines there, had found two buried bodies. “They also told us it was not the first case what alarmed us a lot. There is a question: where have the found corpses disappeared?”, she said.

“I addressed to the president at once, but at that moment he was unavailable, and I informed vice-president Alexander Ankuab about it”. He, according to her, made the decision promptly, and literally ordered to all power bodies to take appropriate measures. Kichba believes they might be missing Abkhaz fighters as it is well-known that in the beginning the Georgian party took away the corpses, but then in order to avoid scandals began to dump them in the sea.

Kichba considers that till parents of the missing persons (many of them are already no more) are alive,  DNA analyses should be made. “We are on friendly terms with Russia, we are in partnership with them, and the work of an EMERCOM search party is well organized. It hope that the authorities will concern themselves with this issue”, she said.

Guli Kichba also said that in 2001experts in identification arrived in Abkhazia as a part of the ICRC Mission. “They were even ready  to sponsor the identification in the Glory Park, but our authorities did not agree to it, saying that “it is a severe trauma for parents”, she said.

According to Kichba, “parents will never be ready for it, their hearts will always bleed, but it is better than ignorance of the destiny of the missing people dear to them”.

She also considers absence of a committee on missing persons in the Parliament of Abkhazia to be wrong.

According to unspecified data, 200 persons were missing during the 1992-1993 Patriotic War of the Abkhaz Nation.

08.30.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, August 30 is the International Day of the Disappeared. A flower-laying ceremony took place today in Sukhum, in the Glory Park where victims of the 1992-1993 Patriotic War of the  Abkhaz Nation are buried. Representatives of the “Mothers of Abkhazia for peace and social justice” movement, the Government of the republic, as well as the Mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Abkhazia attended the ceremony.

The government of Abkhazia resumes work of the Commission on missing persons, the first vice-PM of the government Leonid Lakerbaya who is in charge of the social block in the government told journalists today.

For the last five years  this commission's work has been wrapped up. “There is a proposal to resume work of this commission under the Emergency Control Department of the Republic of Abkhazia”, Lakerbaya specified.

Lakerbaya expressed a desire that heedful and not indifferent people worked in the commission on  missing persons. “It is a very hard job. A lot of parents do not want to believe that their children  have been killed. They do not want any welfare and allowances, they wait and hope that their children have not been killed and will return”, Leonid Lakerbaya said regretfully.

The vice PM emphasized that the government makes a close study of all appeals received from the Mothers Movement. In his opinion, the missing persons who have been given the same status as the dead during the war, should be  a separate category in the database. In the lists of the missing persons service men and civilians should be marked out.

Lakerbaya thanked the ICRC Mission in Abkhazia for active assistance in resumption of the missing persons program.

“I hope that with the help from the ICRC we will carry out the DNA analysis of the buried in the places we know”, Lakerbaya said. The vice PM drew attention to the fact that several unknown soldiers killed during the 1992-1993 Georgian-Abkhaz war were buried in the Glory Park. “It is very important for us to identify at least one of them”, Lakerbaya added.

He said that ten years ago the DNA analysis issue was a painful one, and the families hoped to find the missing persons some other way. Today the missing soldiers' mothers have agreed to the DSA analysis.

“I hope that from the Georgian party responsible people will deal with the missing persons problem. If this problem is not politicized, we can succeed in solving it”, Lakerbaya said.

08.30.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 Presidential Administration receives congratulations on the second anniversary of the recognition of Abkhazia’s independence

Sukhum, Presidential Administration receives congratulations on the second anniversary of the recognition of Abkhazia’s independence.

Congratulations have been sent by the President of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Igor Smirnov, the Vologda region governor Vyacheslav Pozgalev, “Coordination Council of Caucasian nations” Voronezh regional public organization, Federation of Caucasian Associations in Turkey, etc, the Governmental Information Department told Apsnypress.

“August 26, 2008 is the day when the Russian leadership made a historical decision to recognize independence of Abkhazia. It became a natural result of a long and uneasy way, opened a new inspiring page in a thousand-year history of the Abkhaz state. This date is the embodiment of determination and courage, belief in a victory and a triumph of justice that helped Abkhazs stand the most difficult tests of the last decade, defending their free choice”, Igor Smirnov's telegram reads in part.

PMR President wished the people of Abkhazia “establishment of stable peace, well-being, and every success”. Igor Smirnov expressed confidence of further dynamical development of many-sided cooperation between Abkhazia and the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic.

“On behalf of the Federation of Caucasian Associations in Turkey and from myself personally allow me to congratulate sincerely you and the entire Abkhaz nation on the second anniversary of the recognition of independence of Abkhazia by Russia. August 26 became a historical date for Abkhazia building a free, democratic and prosperous state”, president of the Federation of Caucasian Associations in Turkey Cihan Jandemir’s congratulation to the President of the Republic of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh says.

Cihan Jandemir wished Sergey Bagapsh and the people of Abkhazia every success.

08.27.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Russians who visit Abkhazia and South Ossetia without crossing the Georgian border may be fined or jailed, a Georgian Interior Ministry official said on Friday.

"Visiting Abkhazia and South Ossetia without the knowledge of the Georgian authorities is a criminal offense," Shota Utiashvili, head of the Interior Ministry's information and analytical department, said.

Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia two weeks after a five-day war with Georgia in August 2008, which began when Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia in an attempt to bring it back under central control.

Since then, Russia has deployed thousands of troops and border guards to the tiny countries, which Georgia considers part of its sovereign territory.

Those Russian tourists who visit Abkhazia and South Ossetia without Georgia's permission may be fined up to $1,200 and those who "collude" with the authorities of these two territories may face up to 5 years behind bars, Utiashvili said.

"If it is a person who visits Abkhazia as tourist, the issue will be just about a fine. But if the person de-facto works for the government of Abkhazia, in this case imprisonment is an option," he added.

"But in 90% of cases when a person comes to Georgia with an Abkhaz [border crossing] stamp we say that he or she will have to pay a fine. Usually, we send them back," he added.

Utiashvili did not say exactly how many people are currently serving time in Georgian jails for violating its borders.

"Some people have so far been detained for violating state borders. There are Russian and Georgian nationals, as well as people from other countries among them," he said.

08.27.2010  RIA Novosti

Sukhum, Abkhazia has marked the 2nd anniversary of the recognition of its independence by Russia.

The festivities are currently holding in all cities and regions of the republic.

Before the festivities Abkhazian President Sergei Bagapsh will meet deputy governor of Krasnodar Territory Murat Akhidzhak, a government deputy spokesman told Itar-Tass on Thursday.

In the evening a concert will take place on the Freedom Square. Twenty-minute fireworks will crown the celebrations.

08.26.2010  Itar-Tass

An Abkhazian official has said that Abkhaz authorities stand ready to help engineer a return to Turkey of a Turkish ship that has been docked at Abkhazia’s Port of Sukhum for about 50 days due to technical disputes.

Valery Papba, the head of transportation and communications for Abkhazia, offered assistance for the freighter MV Daphne, which he said had been “abandoned to its fate” with five Turkish, four Syrian and one Azerbaijani crewmembers, the Anatolia news agency reported on Monday. The Sierra Leone-flagged ship cannot return to Turkey due to disputes between the Turkish company that operates the ship and an Abkhaz agency it works with, according to media reports. There is little legal redress available to Turkey since the ship flies the flag of Sierra Leone.

Saying that his administration had provided necessary food and water for the crew and gave them mobile phones so they could contact their families, Papba said officials of the company that owns the ship had done nothing to help the ship return to Turkey.

The Abkhaz official said humanitarian aid organizations in the country had also pledged their help if needed and that they are ready to make the crewmembers “feel that they are not abandoned.”

Speaking to reporters, crewmembers said the ship was heavily damaged while they were trying to dock and that the engine sustained damage as well. They said they have no electricity and have to live in very poor conditions.

08.25.2010  TODAY'S ZAMAN

 The outer world's attitude to Abkhazia will depend on how Abkhazia will develop, how its state will become stronger

Sukhum, The outer world's attitude to Abkhazia will depend on how Abkhazia will develop, how its state will become stronger, Prime Minister Sergey Shamba said today at the foreign policy “round table”. In his opinion, statements from many distinguished politicians and experts declaring openly that the recognition of Abkhazia is the most probable thing that might happen are evidence of a change in the attitude to Abkhazia.

“Recently we have seen appreciable interest to Abkhazia from the Turkish Republic. Iran that has old interests in the region has also become more active, Shamba said. “Owing to the importance of this region where interests of such important actors as Russia, Turkey, Iran coincide; the United States of America that have not been here as an active actor before also show activity”.

According to the head of the government, August, 2008 events dotted the i's and cross the t's. “The resoluteness Russia showed then, and all its subsequent steps demonstrate that it has reestablished firmly its authority in this region, and nobody, even such important competitors as the USA, wants to compete with it and challenge it”, Shamba said.

In this situation, in his opinion, the multivector policy proclaimed by the leadership of Abkhazia and pursued by the Foreign Ministry that has been subject to criticism in its time becomes quite clear.

“By the multivector policy we understand interaction with the neighboring countries – political, economic, cultural… As to the union with Russia it has no alternative. Abkhazia and Russia are strategic partners and allies. Our position in this matter is quite clear”, the head of the government emphasized.

“The leadership of Abkhazia has repeatedly declared that our only strategic ally is Russia, and the multivector policy we speak about, means mutual relations we want to build with other countries for achieving wide international recognition of Abkhazia's independence”, Shamba added.

At that he emphasized that the foreign policy of Abkhazia had never spread so far beyond the bounds of the region before.

The visit of the Abkhaz delegation led by President Sergey Bagapsh to Latin America where important agreements were signed, according to Shamba, shows that the active policy demonstrating our aspiration to develop relations with other countries is being pursued.

“The recognition by the Russian Federation of Abkhazia's independence, as a matter of principle, settles the most important question for any state –safeguarding of security and creation of a basis for the economic development. In accordance with the signed agreements, we have all possibilities for protecting the society against any aggression and developing the national economy”, Shamba added.

At the same time, achievement of the recognition of Abkhazia by the international community should be a priority of the country's foreign policy, PM stressed.

08.25.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

A rift is brewing in Russian-Abkhaz relations over property rights issues involving apartments, houses, resort hotels and even beaches in Abkhazia owned by Russian nationals. The deals date back to a time when Abkhazia was struggling for independence. Now that the republic has finally broken away from Georgia, it will not recognize the contracts which place all of its seaside property and resort facilities in Russian hands.

The Abkhaz news agency Apsnypress yesterday circulated a statement by the country's Prime Minister Sergei Shamba that the Abkhaz government has turned down Russia's proposal regarding the property rights of Russian citizens living in Abkhazia.

According to Shamba, the Russian Foreign Ministry had issued a concept for a joint Russian-Abkhaz commission on the restitution of property rights of Russian citizens in the Republic of Abkhazia. The document had no registration number or cover letter, and was therefore turned down without consideration, Shamba said.

His statement was in fact provoked by local media reports which said that this concept, if approved, would run counter to Abkhazia's national interests. If the Russians' property rights are confirmed, thousands of Georgian refugees, who fled Abkhazia in the 1990s during an armed conflict, could apply for the restitution of their rights to abandoned homes as well.

The Russian Foreign Ministry information department said Moscow had sent official letters to Abkhazia, along with reports on property being confiscated from Russian nationals and the list of victims of this policy. A draft concept of restitution of Russian citizens' property rights has also been sent.

However, according to a source in the Abkhaz government, this issue involves not only apartments claimed by Russians living in Abkhazia, but also resort facilities acquired earlier by Russian nationals living in Russia.

Sergei Shamba told a news conference in Sukhum on Monday that his government was not refusing to consider restitution issues. "We are looking at issues involving the restitution of real property to Russian citizens. However, these complicated issues cannot be resolved quickly because Russian citizens are not necessarily ethnic Russians. Many of them are former residents of Abkhazia of Georgian birth, including those who fought against the Abkhaz people during the Georgia-Abkhazia conflict. These people should be banned from the republic," he said, adding that a special commission is considering each restitution request separately.

08.24.2010  Nezavisimaya Gazeta

Amman, First Deputy of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce Board Issa Murad discussed with a delegation from the Abkhazian Chamber of Trade and Industry means of boosting economic and trade relations between Jordan and Abkhazia.

The two sides stressed the importance of the cooperation agreement which would pave the ways for stronger economic, trade and investment relations between the two sides.

Murad highlighted the need to promote bilateral trade exchange, adding that both Jordan and Abkhazia have many industrial and agricultural products of high quality.

The delegation voiced interest to develop relations with Jordan in various fields.

08.24.2010  Ammon News

Sukhum, “Foreign policy of the Republic of Abkhazia : results and prospects” is the subject of the “round table” organized by the foreign policy department of the Presidential Administration for the second anniversary of the recognition by Russia of Abkhazia's independence. Leading experts and politicians who had taken part in forming the foreign policy of Abkhazia, discussed the results of country's development from the point of view of its international situation and prospect of Abkhazia in the system of international relations.

“The recognition of independence of Abkhazia by Russia is a historical event which our nation has gone towards for many long years. The recognition of Abkhazia as a subject of international law  appeared to be a very difficult process. The President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev have said time and again, this decision has presented a problem for him, however, having recognized the independence of Abkhazia, Russia doesn't intend to renounce its decision and to reverse it to please somebody”, President Sergey Bagapsh said, opening the discussion. According to the head of state, “the recognition entails more obligations, rather than privileges”.

“The situation that has developed in the country and around it in connection with the recognition of independence, called for amending the domestic and foreign policy. The activity aimed at achieving the recognition of Abkhazia by other countries took on special significance”, Bagapsh said. “The last two years became the years of strengthening international positions of the Republic of Abkhazia”.

The President stressed the importance of further development of mutually beneficial cooperation  between Abkhazia and Russia, being strategic partners and allies.

He also pointed to the increasing interest to Abkhazia in the world.

The President's foreign policy adviser Vyacheslav Chirikba, Prime Minister Sergey Shamba, the Ambassador of Russia to Abkhazia Semyon Grigoriev, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Maxim Gunjia, the director of the Center for Strategic Researches to the President Oleg Damenia, a Public Chamber member Natella Akaba, an employee for the Center for Humanitarian Programs Liana Kvarchelia, an AGU associate professor, a candidate of Political Studies Irakly Khintba spoke about various aspects of the country's foreign policy.

The “round table” was also attended by Said Tarkil, Socrat Jinjolia, Leonid Lakerbaya, Konstantin Ozgan and Sergey Shamba, who have held office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the republic. The hononary consul of Abkhazia to the Great Britain George Hewitt, Official Representatives of the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Abkhazia to Germany and Turkey - Khibla Amichba and Vladimir Avidzba also participated in the discussion.

One of the participants, an Abkhaz State University associate professor, the head of the  international relations chair Raul Khonelia offered the former heads of the foreign policy department of Abkhazia to write memoirs about their work.

“Your memoirs will be interesting to our young people. They want to know more about glorious, and at the same time dramatic pages of the history of the country”, he said.

08.24.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 On August 26 Abkhazia to mark second anniversary of recognition of republic's independence by Russia

Sukhum, A festive concert dedicated to the second anniversary of the recognition by Russia of Abkhazia's independence will be held on August 26 at 7:00pm in Sukhum, on Freedom Square.

Abkhaz ensembles and the State concert dance and song ensemble of the Krasnodar regional philharmonic society will take part in the concert.

A concert with "Yugra" show band, “Musical quarter”, "Ashchhardats" rock band and DJ Rufat will be held at 9:00pm near the colonnade on the Muhajirs Quay.

At 11:00pm the sky above Sukhum will be illuminated with festive fireworks.

08.24.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

On Sunday three tourists from Moscow were rescued in the mountains of the Transcaucasian republic of Abkhazia.

According to Interfax, the three young men had been climbing one of the highest peaks of the republic “Atsetuk”.

On their return while searching for a way off the mountain they were separated and lost sight of each other, and then had to telephone rescuers for assistance.

The descent took almost all day and occurred on a steep cliff. "The tourists had no warm clothes and it was not possible to make a fire because they were in the alpine zone where there are no trees." the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Abkhazia said in a statement.

08.23.2010  The Voice of Russia

Moscow, The Kremlin may publish the transcript from a CSTO summit in which Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he was ready to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia, a senior Russian presidential official confirmed on Wednesday.

On Saturday, presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko said the Kremlin was ready to publish the transcript.

Prikhodko made his statement on the Russian president's orders, Deputy Сhief of Staff Alexei Gromov said, adding that reports that Medvedev was "dissatisfied" with his aide's words were false.

Lukashenko promised to recognize the independence of the republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia during a Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit on August 3.

The Belarusian president has not yet acted on his promise, complaining that Russia has refused to help his country cope with the consequences of such a step.

Medvedev will snub Lukashenko for his failure to deliver on the promise at a forthcoming CSTO summit in the Armenian capital of Yerevan on August 20-21, Russian business daily Kommersant said on Monday.

Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia shortly after a five-day war with Georgia in August 2008. Fighting broke out when Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia in a bid to bring it back under central control.

Nicaragua, Venezuela and the tiny island nation of Nauru are the only other countries to have recognized the republics.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and Lukashenko have repeatedly claimed that Belarus is under pressure from Russia to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Experts say Belarus has been dragging its feet because it fears that the move would strain its relations with the West.

08.18.2010  RIA Novosti

Moscow, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has no intentions of talking with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko during a forthcoming Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) informal summit, Russian respected business daily Kommersant said.

Medvedev has accused Lukashenko of his failure to deliver on a promise to recognize the independence of the republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Last week, Lukashenko said Belarus had not recognized the republics because Russia refused support with the consequences of such a step.

Medvedev has no plans of holding a bilateral meeting with Lukashenko during the summit, the paper said citing a source in the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Lukashenko may also cancel his trip to Armenia like he did last year during the Belarusian-Russian "dairy war," Kommersant said.

The Belarusian president promised to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on August 3. Lukashenko made his promise in the presence of several CIS leaders, Medvedev said.

Kremlin aide Sergei Prikhodko said on Saturday the Kremlin was ready to publish the transcript of the CSTO meeting, during which Lukashenko said he was ready to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Belarus may also back out on its deal with Russia's nuclear power export monopoly Atomstroyexport on the construction of a nuclear power plant in the ex-Soviet republic, Lukashenko said last week.

The CSTO informal summit will be held in the Armenian capital of Yerevan on August 20-21.

08.16.2010  RIA Novosti

Sergey Borisov, The Kremlin has accused Lukashenko of inconsistency on the issue of the recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as “the information war” continues.

The issue of the recognition of the republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia has become another topic over which relations between Minsk and Moscow are deteriorating. President Dmitry Medvedev told journalists on August 3 that his Belarusian counterpart, Aleksandr Lukashenko, had promised “solemnly” to do everything in the shortest possible time to recognize the both republics as independent states.

Lukashenko stressed on August 13 that his remarks had been distorted. He said he had only noted that “it is not a problem for Belarus to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia. But I also enumerated all the problems that Belarus could have with the European Union, the US, and the CIS because of this,” Interfax quoted him as saying.

However, Russian presidential aide on international affairs Sergey Prikhodko said Moscow could make public “the transcript of a CSTO [Collective Security Treaty Organization] meeting that contains the Belarusian president’s words on this account…We could also publish Aleksandr Lukashenko’s other remarks, which might be quite interesting to both the Belarusian and international public,” he added.

Lukashenko noted he wanted Russia to help Belarus in overcoming problems in the international arena connected with the possible recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. On August 13, he also stressed that Minsk is trying to improve relations with the United States.

“If the US wants to improve relations with us, we are prepared for this,” Lukashenko said, adding that many issues in bilateral relations may be resolved. The Belarusian leader also mentioned a reset in the Russian-US relations. Asking a “a rhetorical question,” he said: “Have they been reset? It looks like they haven’t.”

Lukashenko added that Minsk wanted Moscow and Washington to have good ties. At the same time, he warned Russia and US not to reset relations with Belarus as regards democratization. If Russia or the US want “to break and rebuild everything, this won’t work,” he stressed.

“Russia and Belarus are continuing the information war, Nezavisimaya Gazeta daily said. “Yesterday the exchange of ‘compliments’ between the two countries continued with the third documentary film of the Godfather (Bat’ka) series.”

Although Lukashenko seems to ignore the films, Minsk has taken offence, the papers said. Over the last two weeks, Belarusian state channels have been starting their news programs with reports about wildfires in Russia and Belarusian firemen who help to put them out, the paper said.

In their commentaries, Belarusian state media blame the Russian leadership for a great number of the wildfires and question its [the leadership’s] effectiveness, the daily noted. “Local observers do not expect the anti-Russian rhetoric in the Belarusian media to ease soon,” the paper said. “The Godfather (Bat’ka)-3, shown on the Russian NTV channel yesterday, narrates not only about excesses in Belarus, but also about the life of the Lukashenko clan,” it added. “The Belarusian president will not forgive this.”

“The relations between the Kremlin and the Belarusian leader have been deteriorating every day,” Argumenty i Fakty weekly said. After Lukashenko accused his Russian counterpart of distortion of his statement on Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Moscow “seems to be disappointed again in its partner,” it noted.

Moscow did not limit itself to the presidential aide’s statement and demonstrated the third part of the Godfather documentary, the paper said. “It showed in detail the fact of corruption in the Lukashenko’s family and how clans are created in Belarus,” the paper said. Moreover, the creators of the film even stated that Lukashenko is “a psychopath,” citing the results of medical expertise, the daily noted.

The continuing information war shows that Moscow may not support Lukashenko during the presidential elections that will take place in half a year, the weekly said. “Moreover, the Kremlin is seeking a concrete candidate for the position of the Belarusian leader,” it noted.

Different figures are being considered, but a particular candidate has not been named yet. It may possibly happen in the autumn when the Belarusian parliament will determine the final date of the elections,” it assumed.

“Thus, the nearer the autumn and the elections in Belarus, the quicker the finale of the story of the 16 years of the friendship of Moscow and Minsk will be,” the weekly said. “For it, Russia paid Lukashenko with money, oil and gas and receiving from him only promises to love Russia.”

The Russian president may ignore Lukashenko at the forthcoming informal CSTO summit in Yerevan on August 20-21, Kommersant daily said, citing diplomatic sources. However, Lukashenko may ignore the meeting itself, the daily noted.

His statement about distortion of his words “has become the first attack against his colleague,” the paper said, adding that earlier, the Belarusian leader fairly sharply criticized Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

It is unclear if the threats to publish transcripts of the meetings between the leaders will be realized, the paper said. “But the latest exchange of sharp statements between Minsk and Moscow show that the relations between the leadership of the two seemingly allied countries have reached a critical point.”

The fact that all integration processes in the framework of the Union State of Russia and Belarus have been frozen also shows the seriousness of the problem. The Russian leadership may have come to the conclusion that “there will be no closer ties with Lukashenko,” State Duma deputy Konstantin Zatulin told the paper.

Political technology used against Lukashenko is not effective, believes Aleksey Vlasov, general director of the Information and Analytical Center of Moscow State University. It would be useless to show transcripts or documentaries to harm Lukashenko’s image in Belarus, he told Gazeta daily.

“Russian leaders probably wrongly assess the level of Belarusians’ support for Lukashenko’s regime,” the analyst told Gazeta daily. “The majority of middle-aged Belarusians really support the president.”

The next step for Minsk in the information war will be determined by the tactics that Lukashenko chooses in relations with Russia, Vlasov said. “If the president plays on the economic union with Russia, he will make steps to remove the tension. But then he will have to publicly recant, because the Kremlin will receive nothing else: our tandem is too tired of the fact that Lukashenko constantly deceives Russia.”

08.16.2010  Russian Opinion and Analysis Review, RT

Sukhum, Abkhazia this Saturday marks Fatherland Defenders Memory Day.

The Georgian-Abkhazian armed conflict began on August 14, 1992, when Georgian troops intruded into the republic's territory.

The day in Sukhum traditionally began with a flower laying ceremony at the Glory Memorial, where Abkhazian defenders are buried.

President Sergei Bagapsh, Vice-President Alexander Ankuab, Parliament Speaker Nugzar Ashuba and Prime Minister Sergei Shamba participated in the ceremony.

Then, the leaders and representatives of the public visited the grave of first Abkhazian president Vladislav Ardzynba in the village of Nizhnyaya Eshera, the Sukhum district.

A commemoration meeting will be held in the Military Glory Museum in Eshera on Saturday. Candles will be lit in commemoration of the dead, and a documentary film about the 1992-1993 events will be shown.

According to the Abkhazian Defence Ministry, 2,700 people died and more than 5,000 were wounded in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict. About 200 people are missing.

08.14.2010  ITAR-TASS

Minsk, Belarus has not recognized the republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia because Russia refused to help it cope with the consequences of such a step, the Belarusian president said Friday.

The Belarusian Belta news agency said Alexander Lukashenko was asked by journalists to comment on Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's accusation that Lukashenko had failed to deliver on a promise to recognize the countries' independence.

"I told him: it's not a problem for Belarus to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia, even today it's not a problem. But I enumerated to him the problems that would arise for Belarus in its relations with the EU, the United States, the CIS etc.," Lukashenko said.

"We laid out these problems - there were about 15 of them," he said.

But, according to Lukashenko, when he asked whether Russia is ready to help Belarus overcome the problems if they arise, "Russia turned out to be incapable or the Russian leadership did not want to level and deal with the consequences that could arise for Belarus."

"If Russia took steps to meet [Belarus] halfway, the situation would probably be different," he said.

Russia recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which both split from Georgia after the collapse of the Soviet Union, two weeks after the end of a five-day war with Georgia in August 2008.

The move was heavily criticized by Western powers. So far, only Venezuela, Nicaragua and the tiny island nation of Nauru have followed suit.

08.13.2010  RIA Novosti

Moscow, Air Force Commander-in-Chief Alexander Zelin has announced that S-300 air defense missiles have been deployed on the territory of Abkhazia to cover its airspace and prevent the violation of its state borders.

Georgia expressed its outrage over the deployment, but journalists found out that S-300s had been brought to Gudauta back in November 2008. Experts also believe that the missiles are intended mainly to counteract the United States, should they decide to send their naval ships to the Black Sea again, rather than Georgia’s planes of which there are few.

Colonel-General Zelin has been speaking about how Abkhazia will be protected against possible air attacks. The aviation will not be permanently based in Abkhazia, but the mission (of covering the territory from air attacks) will be solved in a multi-pronged manner, and that also includes air defense of the territory of South Ossetia by frontline and army aviation patrols. The S-300 system has been deployed on the territory of Abkhazia to provide air defense of Abkhazia and South Ossetia together with the land forces’ air defense assets.

The general stressed that S-300s cover only the territory of Abkhazia while in South Ossetia, which has a smaller territory, the regular air defense forces can do the job. The entire grouping is aimed at destroying air targets.

Tbilisi’s reaction to General Zelin’s statement was predictable. The Georgian Minister for Reintegration, Timur Yakobashvili, said that S-300s upset the balance of forces in Europe, create tensions and instability and, rather oddly, suggested that the deployment of the complex was spearheaded against NATO and the United States and their missile defense complexes in Eastern Europe.

Meanwhile, Anton Lavrov of the Strategies and Technology Analysis Center has said that the S-300PS missiles were moved to Abkhazia back in November 2008 and are now being used to cover the Russian contingent in South Ossetia. The missile has a range of about 80 km (50 miles), which puts it out of range of Tbilisi or the American missile defense facilities in Poland.

Another Center expert, Konstantin Makiyenko, said that S-300s could be moved towards Tbilisi in the event of an armed conflict with Georgia. However, he said he was confident that the missiles were intended not to repel Georgian attacks but to protect the air space if the U.S. intervenes, like in September 2008.

08.12.2010  GZT.ru

Gudauta (Abkhazia), Russian President Dmitry Medvedev pledged that the country’s authorities would do their best to provide good conditions for the service and the daily life of servicemen at a Russian military base in Abkhazia.

“Today is a special day in the history of our country, the history of Abkhazia and in the history of South Ossetia, because exactly two years ago Georgia provoked a bloody conflict, in which our citizens – peacekeepers deployed in South Ossetia and civilians - were killed, and this day will be imprinted forever in our memory as the day of sorrow and the day, when the Russian Federation decided to protect civilians and retaliate for what had been done against them,” Medvedev said during the visit to the Russian military base in Gudauta.

The president noted that two years that passed after the armed conflict were quite difficult, but for this period of time “we succeeded to establish the peaceful life, we succeeded to help our friends, citizens of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to establish their life, particularly to improve the daily life conditions a little bit.”

“For this period of time those, who serve here and in South Ossetia, gained a good experience. But the most important thing is that all of you today and your predecessors just protected the peaceful life and helped ordinary people,” the president pointed out.

He noted that without the assistance of Russian servicemen “many of them (civilians) would not have been alive any longer.”

The president emphasized that Russian servicemen in Abkhazia and South Ossetia “do not allow some extremism forces to impose their approaches, instigate strife and hatred and to shed blood.”

Medvedev wished the servicemen of the Russian military base patience, a good morale, because they “are doing a very important service for our country and for Abkhazia.”

“The Russian Federation is doing its best for your good service,” the president said. The construction of new barracks, new houses for servicemen and dormitories is finalizing, he underlined. “If you have normal conditions for service I believe that the tasks will be fulfilled,” the president said.

08.09.2010  ITAR-TASS

NATO states are using economic methods in an attempt to help Georgia reclaim South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Russia’s permanent representative to the alliance Dmitry Rogozin has said.

Tbilisi is receiving massive economic aid “so that it could display ‘Georgian capitalism’ at the border line with South Ossetia, in order to seduce the residents of the new republics by its achievements,” the diplomat said in an interview with Itar-Tass news agency.

According to Rogozin, those trends are quite risky since if the economies of Abkhazia and South Ossetia “fail to recover, there will be an unfavorable economic misbalance with Georgia's frontier territories.” Such misbalance would later be used in propaganda as evidence of “Georgian success and failure of new states,” he added.

Making things worse, the West is maintaining an economic blockade of the two Caucasian republics, which only get aid from Russia, Rogozin noted.

Among the Kremlin’s recent steps towards closer cooperation between Russia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia was the decision to synchronize both the economic legislation and the customs procedures of the three states. On Friday, while meeting the First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, Premier Vladimir Putin stressed the importance of investments and joint projects that “should be based on joint understanding of economic processes and joint economic legislature.”

As to NATO, while supporting Georgia’s territorial integrity, the alliance continues to push for Kosovo’s independence, Dmitry Rogozin said. “Moreover, NATO states even diplomatically push other countries, including Russia’s historical and close allies, not to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia,” he stated.

Russia recognized the independence of the two republics shortly after the Five Day War, which started on August 8, 2008, when Georgian troops attacked the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinval. So far, only three other countries – Nicaragua, Venezuela, and the island nation of Nauru in Micronesia – have recognized the new states.

NATO leaves romanticism and goes pragmatic

Two years on after the 2008 war, NATO took off its rose-colored glasses and ditched the “romantic approach” in relations with Georgia, Rogozin said. However, it continues pragmatic cooperation with Tbilisi.

The alliance, the Russian diplomat says, “has practically confirmed it has new policies in relations with other countries, which cover not only formal membership in the organization, but a non-formal one also.” The non-formal members look neutral, but in fact they participate in “NATO's most advanced programs… in the united system of anti-missile defense, in exchange of all military and technical information and military experience.”

While currently there is no talk of Georgia’s official membership in the alliance, the country “has a vast set of options for a wide partnership with the organization,” Rogozin stated.

At the same time, NATO has recovered its relations with Moscow which were damaged after the 2008 conflict in the Caucasus. In a rather symbolic move, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen focused his first major public speech in autumn last year exactly on relations between Russia and the organization. He said the two could make a new beginning.

“Why did I choose to focus my first speech on Russia? The answer is quite simple. I believe that, of all of NATO’s relationships with Partner countries, none holds greater potential than the NATO-Russia relationship. Yet I also believe that none is so much burdened by misperceptions, mistrust and diverging political agendas,” the NATO chief said back then.

And, indeed, there has been a warming in relations. In March 2009, it was decided that the Russia-NATO Council (NRC) – which was suspended in 2008 following the August conflict – would resume its work. Now, however, the alliance – in the framework of the NRC – avoids talking about the Georgian war, Rogozin said, adding that it has been several times that he initiated discussions on the issue.

“But the counterparts did not seem keen to go into a discussion,” he said, adding that there could be two reasons for that.

“First of all, inside NATO there is a certain understanding that contacts with Georgia should exist, and the public side of those contacts should not be forced,” he said. “Secondly, they fear to discuss the topic with Russia as they believe it may contradict our relations, and the NATO countries are not interested in spoiling relations with Russia now,” Rogozin added.

08.6.2010  RT

Sukhum, Department for Emergency Situations Response of the Republic of Abkhazia has set up teams of rescuers and firefighters who may be sent to Russia any time for rendering assistance in the elimination of wildfires that have been raging there for more than two weeks.

The department's director, Lev Kvitsinia, said this in a letter to the Russian Minister for Emergency Situations and Civil Defense, Sergei Shoigu.

Experts of the Abkhazian department are watching closely the developments in a number of Russia's regions and "they are learning the reports from some places with heart-felt pain."

"We express sincere condolences to the families of those who died and we honor the courage and heroism of Russian rescuers and firefighters who are fighting with the fires with risk for their own lives," Kvitsinia said.

08.05.2010  ITAR-TASS

 Russia hopes more states will recognize Abkhazia, S Ossetia - Karasin

Moscow, Russia hopes more states will recognize the independence of Caucasian republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and State Secretary Grigory Karasin said on Wednesday.

“Abkhazia’s and South Ossetia’s diplomatic efforts on the international arena are impressive,” Karasin said in an interview with Itar-Tass.

He reminded that in 2009-2010 Abkhazia’s Foreign Minister Maxim Gunjia visited Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Argentina, Ecuador, and Chile. In December 2009, an agreement of establishing diplomatic relations was signed with the Republic of Nauru. In April 2010, Nicaragua’s foreign minister visited Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

In July 2010, Presidents Sergei Bagapsh of Abkhazia and Eduard Kokoity of South Ossetia paid official visits to Nicaragua and Venezuela. The visits were crowned with a whole range of bilateral agreements. Thus, the two Caucasian republics signed agreements on establishing diplomatic relations with Venezuela, agreements on political consultation mechanisms and framework cooperation agreements. The two republics signed general friendship and cooperation agreements with Nicaragua, as well as intergovernmental agreements on trade and economic cooperation, and visa-free travels. Abkhazia’s and South Ossetia’s citizens now are required no visas to stay in Nicaragua for 90 days. Moreover, Abkhazia and Nicaragua signed an agreement on air and sea communications.

“On its part, Russia seeks to help Sukhum and Tskhinval in the area of the development of international contacts. We hope that as the young states of Abkhazia and South Ossetia successfully develop, more states will recognize their independence,” Karasin summed up.

08.04.2010  ITAR-TASS

New Athos, A new substation "Athos" that is of great importance not only for power supply of the city of New Athos and neighboring territories, but for the entire Abkhazia opened in New Athos. President Sergey Bagapsh visited the substation.

According to the Abkhaz TV, before reconstruction only one transformer had worked at the "Athos" distribution substation. For three months "Chernomorenergo" specialists had been carrying out the works on putting the new substation into operation.

According to the general director of the "Chernomorenergo" state-owned company Rezo Zantaria, the station has a two-way power supply what makes it possible to supply New Athos in case of a breakdown at the Bsyb and Sukhum substations. But the most important thing is that this substation can supply with electricity any spot of Abkhazia.

President Sergey Bagapsh saw how the distribution substation was equipped. If the main works had been done by "Chernomorenergo" specialists the state had helped purchase necessary equipment.

Sergey Bagapsh highly appreciated the job done, and added  it was necessary to put the city economy in order further.

The "Athos" distribution substation is capable of supplying the city without interruption, but problems with power lines remain. They need to be changed, the Abkhaz TV adds.

At the same time, according to Rezo Zantaria, New Athos residents, as well as all other residents of Abkhazia, pay unwillingly for the consumed electric power.

After the "Athos"substation is put into operation, systems of automatic control of the consumed electric power will be installed in the city. Such systems are already being installed in Sukhum, Gudauta, Ochamchira and other places. Practice has shown the use of new systems raises the collectibility of electric power payments.

Installation of systems of automatic control of the consumed electric power, according to experts, will make it possible to also save the electric power. Otherwise, according to Rezo Zantaria, they will not have time to put transformers into operation.

According to the general director of "Chernomorenergo", monthly the population of Abkhazia pays from RUB 3, 5 million to 4 mln  for the consumed electric power though payments should be several times more. Rezo Zantaria said this money is spent only on the salary to "Chernomorenergo" employees.

The President instructed the general director to think over how to increase the salary to  "Chernomorenergo" specialists.

08.04.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 Monument to Abkhaz poet Bagrat Shinkuba unveiled in Hungary

Kiskoros, A monument to a People’s Poet of Abkhazia Bagrat Shinkuba was unveiled on July 31 in the Hungarian city of Kiskoros, in the homeland of a well-known poet Sandor Petofi within the framework of celebrating Petofi’s 161st anniversary. The monument was unveiled on the lane in the Petofi memorial estate where there are busts of the poets who have been translated Petofi’s works.

A delegation from Abkhazia, the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Abkhazia Nugzar Logua, the author of the monument, a sculptor Tsira Akhba and Professor Sergey Bebia, has arrived at the unveiling of the monument.

The vice-mayor Laslo Lastovitsa welcomed the guests.

In turn Nugzar Logua, speaking at the ceremony, said that “this is a great event in the cultural life of Abkhazia” and reminded of the old cultural ties between Hungary and Abkhazia: about the Hungarian composer Kovac who has done a lot for preservation of the Abkhaz folklore, as well as about the long-livers ensemble from Abkhazia, that has become famous after its performance at a festival in Hungary where the ensemble won the “Golden peacock” Grand prix.

The opening ceremony was also attended by representatives of public organizations, cultural workers of Hungary, representatives of the Embassy of the Russian Federation to Hungary.

At the end of the unveiling ceremony wreaths were laid to the monument to Shinkuba. The city administration gave an official dinner in honor of the guests from Abkhazia.

Days of Petofi in Hungary continue.

08.03.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 Russia is interested in the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, but we do not have such a task - Medvedev

Sochi, Russia is interested in the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, but we do not have such a task, the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev declared.

“We are interested in them to be recognized. But this is not an end in itself. We did not have such a task and we do not have”, the Russian leader told journalists, answering their questions.

Speaking about the position of Minsk on this issue, Medvedev said the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko had spoken earlier about the intention to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia. According to the Russian leader, the Belarus leader had given this promise in the presence of some CIS countries heads. “He said: “I promise solemnly I will do everything within the shortest time possible”, the President of Russia said.

08.03.2010  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 Russia questions Belarus stand on Abkhazia, South Ossetia

Moscow, Russia is interested in the international recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, but this is not an end in itself, President Dmitry Medvedev has told reporters.

When elaborating on the stand of Minsk on the issue, he said that the Belarusian leader earlier made it clear that it was Belarus’s firm decision to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Alexander Lukashenko made the pledge in the presence of the leaders of a number of CIS countries, Medvedev said.

Russia was the first to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, followed by Venezuela, Nicaragua and the insular Pacific nation Nauru.

08.03.2010  The Voice of Russia