The 9th round of international consultations on security in Transcaucasia ended with no results.

Geneva, The ninth round of international consultations on security in Transcaucasia, held in Geneva on January 28, ended with no results.

The Abkhaz delegation’s head, the President’s adviser on international affairs Vyacheslav Chirikba told the Abkhaz State TV and Radio Company by phone from Geneva, that “unfortunately, there’s no result”.

“Despite our calls to start discussing a draft agreement on the non-use of force, the organizers refer to impossibility of creating a compromise document at this stage and prefer basically to speak about the five-sided mechanism on incident prevention and response; within the framework of the mechanism five-sided meetings are held in the Gal district”.

Chirikba stressed that “to reach an Agreement on the non-use of force between Abkhazia and Georgia, South Ossetia and Georgia with international guarantees is, first of all, important for Abkhazia and South Ossetia”.

In turn an Abkhaz delegation member, the deputy Foreign Minister Maxim Gunjia said that “the Georgian party is persistently rejecting the possibility of signing an agreement, referring to the fact that “deoccupation” of Abkhazia and South Ossetia should be a precondition for such a document to be signed”. “Georgia declares that at first Russian troops should be withdrawn from Abkhazia and South Ossetia and international monitoring force be entered for it to sign the Agreement”, Gunjia said.

This position, according to the deputy Foreign Minister of Abkhazia, is “absolutely unacceptable because it’s inconsistent with new realities”.

“The Georgian party insists practically that the aggression it committed in August, 2008, and the previous wars it has unleashed should be forgotten”, Maxim Gunjia believes.

During the talks Maxim Gunjia was working in the group on refugees. Gunjia commented on the fact that the Georgian party links the signing of the Agreement with the return of Georgian refugees: “the Georgian party has been trying to link things that cannot be linked throughout the negotiations. How can the return of refugees be linked with the non-use of force? Will there be a war if the refugees don’t return? Is this the Georgian position?”

According to Maxim Gunjia, “the problem of the non-use of force is a priority, and it cannot be linked with anything”. “This problem is linked with the fact that a war cannot be unleashed. And that’s all!” the deputy Foreign Minister of Abkhazia stressed.

01.29.2009  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 Serious disagreements prevented from generating a document on non-use of force between Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia - Karasin

Geneva, Disagreements on a matter of principle that have become apparent within the framework of Geneva discussions, "prevented from developing a format of the document on the non-use of force between Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia acceptable for all", the deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Grigory Karasin commented on the results of the ninth round of discussions on security and stability in Transcaucasia. The consultations held under the aegis of the United Nations, EU and OSCE were attended by delegations from the Republic of Abkhazia, Georgia, Russia, the USA, and the Republic of South Ossetia.

Answering the question about the obstacles for the conclusion of such an agreement, the head of the Russian delegation said: "practically everything, starting with who should conclude the agreement". "The Georgian party insists that the agreement should be concluded between Russia and Georgia what is an odious proposal", he explained. "We search for different variants of basic principles, we’ll think how could we receive such guarantees of the non-use of force in the status-neutral form", Karasin said. He characterized the round as "a very tough and dynamic dialogue".

In the political group “the main focus of attention was the situation in the region”, the deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation said, adding that the consultations participants "ascertained that, as a whole, 2010 begins in the situation of stability, peace- for the previous 9 months there have been no human victim around the Georgian-Abkhaz and the Georgian-South Ossetian border what is a significant fact".

Participants in the second group discussed humanitarian issues connected with refugees. "The dialogue there was also rather rich, full of contradictions, but, nevertheless, issues of water consumption, gas supply, registration of refugees will be examined further", the diplomat said. He admitted that "probably, it would be wrong to speak about any breakthrough", but at the same time he emphasized that "there is dynamics, we are satisfied that, despite all contradictions, difficulties, all participants without exception are interested in continuation of the Geneva discussions".

The tenth round of consultations is scheduled for March 30.

01.29.2009  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, Among the agreements being prepared to be signed during possible President Sergey Bagapsh’s visit to Moscow, there are some agreements in the sphere of transport and communication, in particular, on air communication between Russia and Abkhazia. When this agreement is signed, legal basis for resumption of the Sukhum airport’s work will be created. So flights can begin, Russia’s Ambassador to Abkhazia Semyon Grigoriev told journalists at a press conference.

As to the railway project which is being discussed by Abkhazia’s public circles, according to Grigoriev, when meeting and negotiating with the Russian leadership, President Bagapsh made corresponding proposals. “They are being considered, and negotiations continue with participation of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, JSC RZD other concerned participants. For the time being we can’t say that any arrangements have been reached or more over any agreements have been concluded”, the Ambassador said.

According to the diplomat, seaport and port facilities modernization is a point of consideration between respective Russian and Abkhaz ministries. No concrete arrangements have been reached so far.

As to the highway to the North Caucasus there is a speculative project a lot of people speak about, but the concrete details, including the financial ones, are not being discussed for the time being”, Semyon Grigoriev said.

01.29.2009  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 Abkhazia’s residents have the right to know about ecological safety guarantees when oil prospecting work is being done

Sukhum, Russia’s Ambassador to Abkhazia Semyon Grigoriev considers that Abkhazia’s residents have the right to know about ecological safety guarantees when oil prospecting work starts there.

“Nobody has given me personally any guarantees in this matter, so I can’t give them to you”, Semyon Grigoriev told journalists at a press conference. He considers the way of public discussion within the framework of a working group to the Public Chamber of Abkhazia chosen for solving this problem sound.

“I believe that not only the State Ecological Service and department of geodesy and geology heads should take part in the discussion”, the Ambassador said. In his opinion, “Rosneft” representatives who can tell about the ecological safety guarantees this third world largest oil and gas company gives to the countries whose shelves it works on should be invited to the hearings.

“For the time being I can confine myself only to what “Rosneft” representatives told the Abkhazia’s leadership and me, citing work in resort places where no slightest ecological claims have been presented and are presented as an example”, the Ambassador stressed.

As to the filling complexes “Rosneft” will build in Abkhazia, according to the Ambassador, they are not “simply two petrol pumps and a fuel dispenser”. “It is a whole complex where Abkhaz experts will work. These are new jobs; this is a supply of POL of high-quality. As a whole we will follow the political line aimed at protection of the Abkhaz business community’s interests”, the Ambassador said.

01.29.2009  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 Russia’s ambassador to Abkhazia considers situation on the Russian-Abkhaz border on the river Psou common headache

Sukhum, “The situation on the Russian-Abkhaz border on the river Psou is our common problem, it is also a serious “headache” for me as Ambassador”, Russia’s Ambassador to Abkhazia Semyon Grigoriev said at a press conference in Association of employees of mass-media of the Republic of Abkhazia.

Russia’s leadership, including the higher one, according to him, knows about this problem. “All necessary instructions to normalize the situation with cargoes and passengers have been given”, the Ambassador said. “For some reasons, many of them are unknown to me, till now they failed to normalize completely the situation with cargoes and passengers on the river Psou”.

“They say that this problem can be solved cardinally only by building a new bridge and a new modern check point. The Federal Agency for state border arrangement should start work this year”, Grigoriev said.

“Experts say that solution of the railway and sea communication issues would be a considerable aid in this situation. If tourists crossed the border in summer period by electric trains and vessels, it would eliminate a traffic jam on borders”, the Russian diplomat added.

01.29.2009  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 One police officer and two civilians killed in act of terrorism in Abkhazia's Gal District

Gal, One CID officer of the MIA district department and two civilians were killed in an act of terrorism in the Gal district of Abkhazia. Four CID officers and one civilian were wounded, the head of the Gal district administration Beslan Arshba said.

According to him, the accident took place today at around 01:40 pm Moscow time in the village of Chuburkhindzh located near the Georgian-Abkhaz border.

The day before unknown persons had held up local residents in this village who applied today to the Gal district militia. “Upon arrival at the crime scene the car with CID officers was blown up by the mines laid around the house. As a result one CID officer Eduard Kubrava and local residents -a man and a woman were killed on spot. Two CID officers are in a grave condition, two more have moderately severe wounds. One of them with a severe penetrating missile wound was delivered to the Agudzera hospital, three to the Republican hospital.

The Gal district prosecutor’s office initiated a criminal case. Law enforcement bodies of Abkhazia regard what has happened as an act of terrorism against the Gal militia officers.

01.29.2009  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Moscow, Russia prepares an agreement on fight against illegal migration to be signed with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, deputy director of the Federal Migration Service Anatoly Kuznetsov told reporters on Friday.

Kuznetsov took part in a session of the Coordinating Council of heads of CSTO competent agencies on fight against illegal migration. “Our department is drafting agreements on fight against illegal migration to sign them with South Ossetia and Abkhazia,” he said, specifying that the documents are almost ready.

“We are ready to sign shortly an agreement connected with fight against illegal immigrants,” he summed up.

01.29.2010  Itar-Tass

Sukhum, Russia will provide Abkhazia financial assistance worth over 10 billion rubles ($330 million) in the next three years, Russia's ambassador to the former Georgian republic said Thursday.

Semyon Grigoryev said this year Abkhazia would receive about 1.9 billion rubles ($62 million).

He stressed that Russia sought to boost Abkhazia's economy not only with financial assistance but also with Russian investment.

"Needless to say, gratuitous Russian aid will keep Abkhazia's economic and social sphere going but their development should receive a real boost from serious Russian investment, primarily from large and medium-size companies," he said.

The envoy said investment activity would be facilitated by a bilateral cooperation agreement signed by the two countries in 2009.

Georgia and Russia fought a five-day war in August 2008 over South Ossetia, which was attacked by Tbilisi in an attempt to bring it back under central control. Moscow later recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states.

Under mutual assistance treaties signed in November 2008, Russia pledged to help both republics protect their borders, and it has thousands of troops stationed in the republics.

01.28.2010  RIA Novosti

Geneva, The Georgian party’s calls for deployment of international police force or peacekeepers in the territory of Abkhazia and South Ossetia are provocative, the stats-secretary, deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Grigory Karasin declared on the threshold of the next round of Geneva talks on security in Transcaucasia which will be held on Thursday.

Georgian mass-media said Wednesday that during the negotiations in Geneva the Tbilisi delegation planned once again to demand that international peacekeepers and police force be deployed in the territory of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

"As to some Georgian politicians’ and leaders’ statements that they wish to replace Russian military men with international force, the issue is absolutely unsubstantiated and provocative", Karasin heading the Russian delegation at Geneva talks told RIA Novosti news agency.

The Geneva discussions have been held since October, 2008 based on arrangements reached by Russian and French presidents after tragical August, 2008 events in South Ossetia. Delegations of Abkhazia, Georgia, the Russian Federation, the USA, South Ossetia, as well as the EU, the UN and OSCE representatives take part in the Geneva meetings as equals. The previous meetings resulted in the only document containing proposals on mechanisms of incident in Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia prevention and response.

According to the diplomat, the official Tbilisi has to discuss the issue of international force, first of all, with Sukhum and Tskhinval. "I suspect that Abkhaz and South Ossetians will respond rather negatively to it", Karasin added.

01.28.2009  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Geneva, The ninth round of consultations on security and stability in Transcaucasia will begin in Geneva on Thursday. The delegations of Abkhazia, Georgia, South Ossetia, Russia and the United States will participate in the meeting held under the aegis of the United Nations, the European Union and OSCE.

As usual, there will be two working groups to discuss security and humanitarian issues. ITAR-TASS says referring to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation that in Geneva Russia will insist on signing legally binding documents on the non-use of force between Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The Abkhaz delegation head, presidential adviser on international affairs Vyacheslav Chirikba declared before the talks that Abkhazia’s representatives had arrived in Geneva with the intention to reach a result.

“We are rather optimistic though we know the conversation isn’t going to be easy, negotiations aren’t doing to be so fast, it’s going to take us several rounds as there are a lot of political problems on the way to the signing of the Agreement on the non-use of force. However we are aiming at a positive result”, Vyacheslav Chirikba told Abkhaz State TV & Radio Company.

After the consultations the Abkhaz delegation will visit Paris where the Doctor of Sciences Vyacheslav Chirikba will deliver a lecture on the Georgian-Abkhaz settlement under the invitation of the Russian Institute of Democracy and Parliamentarism.

The Geneva consultations have been held since October 2008 on the basis of agreements, which the presidents of Russia and France reached after Russia repelled Georgia’s aggression against South Ossetia in August 2008.

The Russian delegation is led by the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin. Boris Chochiyev, the presidential envoy for post-conflict settlement, will represent South Ossetia. Vyacheslav Chirikba, the Abkhaz President’s adviser on international affairs and the Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Bokeria will respectively represent Abkhazia and Georgia.

The Abkhaz delegation also includes the deputy Defense Minister Garri Kupalba, the deputy Foreign Minister Maxim Gunjia, the member of executive kommittee of the International Abkhaz-Abazin Association Zeki Kapba and the MFA international department chief Lana Agrba.

01.28.2009  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, “The USA and the European Union put pressure upon the leadership of the countries which can recognize independence of Abkhazia”, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia Sergey Shamba declared. According to him, “the EU and the USA threaten the countries which are ready to consider the recognition of the republic with consequences of such a political step, without understanding that the recognition by other states is no longer a vitally important issue for Abkhazia”. Sergey Shamba believes that “the republic can solve the two most important problems, which are very important for any state’s development i.e. security and economic development in full with Russia”. “Big Russia gives small Abkhazia the chance to solve all these problems”, the head of the republic’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs is convinced.

“But our foreign policy is also aimed at establishing the same relations with other countries of the world and, first of all, with the neighboring countries, for example with Turkey and the European Union”.

The head of the foreign policy department of Abkhazia believes that “from the very beginning the European Union has chosen unconstructive attitude to Abkhazia, definitely denying the right of Abkhazia to freedom and independence”.

“We have been trying to obtain independence for a long time already, on principle and consistently. Our entire history, as a matter of fact, is struggle for independence, struggle against colonialism. During the Soviet period we were the only nation which conducted mass politically motivated protests consistently every ten years. Such protests took place even when Stalin was in power, then the following years right up to the USSR collapse. We were ready to give our arguments both legal and historical, but the EU takes no interest in them”, the Minister added regretfully.

According to S. Shamba, it happens because “the EU doesn’t proceeds from the objective reality, but from the political situation”. He believes that “the recognition of independence of Abkhazia by Russia cannot be considered only in the context August, 2008 events”. “The Abkhaz-Georgian conflict has lasted for a long time, and negotiations under the UN aegis have been held as long as in Kosovo - since 1993. Both in Abkhazia and in Kosovo it hasn’t led to the fact that the parties agreed to integration”, S. Shamba said.

“Unlike Kosovo, we, according to the Soviet Union law, had the right to secession from a Union Republic. That was adopted during “Perestroika” under Mikhail Gorbachev when the new Supreme Council took democratic decisions. Kosovo under the constitution of Yugoslavia didn’t have the right to secession from Serbia. We seceded from Georgia according to the Law “About the procedure of solving the issues connected with secession of a Union Republic from the USSR". It gave autonomous republics the right, in case a Union Republic seceded from the USSR, to settle the question of state-legal status independently”, the head of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs said, emphasizing that “the disintegration process wasn’t initiated by Abkhazia, but Georgia”.

“Then we protected independently our country from the Georgian aggression, liberated it on our own, created efficiently functioning state power institutions. It’s all evidence of the fact that we have more rights to independence than Kosovo”, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia Sergey Shamba declared.

01.25.2009  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Moscow, International investigators will arrive in Georgia in early February to investigate the start of the August 2008 war between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia, a Russian daily said on Friday.

Nezavisimaya Gazeta quoted an unidentified source in the Russian Foreign Ministry as saying the International Criminal Court decision to send a group of officials to the former Soviet state was taken following a request by Moscow to The Hague.

"There were many requests to The Hague from both Russia, which considers that real aggressors should be revealed, and South Ossetia, which, besides, has many concrete, factual claims against Georgian military officials," the official said.

The paper said the Georgian government neither confirmed nor denied the Russian report.

Following the five-day war with Georgia over South Ossetia in August 2008, Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The war started when South Ossetia was attacked by Tbilisi in an attempt to bring it back under central control.

The republics have also been recognized by Nicaragua, Venezuela, and the tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru.

The official said the investigators also intended to visit Moscow, adding that Russia was ready to discuss the situation and provide investigators with any available information related to the August 2008 war.

South Ossetia's foreign minister, Murad Dzhioyev, told the paper that Tskhinval was also waiting for international investigators, who would "reveal the party responsible for the start of the August [2008] war." However, he said he did not know when the investigators would arrive in the republic.

Dzhioyev was quoted as saying the republic possessed "documents that could pique investigators' interest," adding that they were being prepared by officials in the presidential administration.

01.22.2010  RIA Novosti

Moscow, Russia will call for the international community to prevent the remilitarization of Georgia, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

A new round of talks on the Transcaucasus, launched after Russia's war with Georgia in 2008, will start in Geneva on January 28. They also involve South Ossetia and Abkhazia, recognized by Russia as independent states.

"A solution is needed on the issue of remilitarizing Georgia and restoring its offensive military potential, which may in the long term lead to escalating the situation in the Transcaucasus with unpredictable consequences for the region's peoples and countries," the ministry said in a statement.

The talks are backed by the UN, the EU and the OSCE.

"All responsible parties in international relations should understand the malignancy of double-standard policies in regard to Georgia, especially in regard to secret supplies of modern weapons and military equipment to Georgia," the ministry's statement reads.

The ministry said Russia would also call for Georgia, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia to sign an agreement on non-use of force as soon as possible.

"Amid the continuing military rhetoric from Tbilisi, calls for the restoration of territorial unity of Georgia by all means, and the elevation of Georgia's military presence and maneuvers near the borders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the issue of providing strong security guarantees for Sukhum and Tskhinval becomes even more important," the ministry said.

The parties will also discuss humanitarian issues related to refugees and displaced people. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin will head the Russian delegation at the talks, which will take place in Geneva for the tenth time.

01.21.2010  RIA Novosti

 Statement from the press-service for the Ministry of Health Care of the Republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, The Ministry of Health Care of the Republic of Abkhazia informs that it has introduced daily monitoring of droplet virus infections sickness rate all over the republic.

Relative to the middle of December, 2009, considerable decrease of sickness rate is observed. At the same time there is suspicion in sickness rate increase in February-March 2010, in this connection, standard activities for vaccination of children and separate groups of population are carried out.

The Ministry of Health Care confirms one АH1N1 flu virus case. The patient who has undergone treatment in one of the Sukhum medical institutions is discharged in view of absolute recovery.

The Abkhaz doctors’ alertness is not caused by the presence of АH1N1 flue virus itself, but the weight of secondary complications accompanying virus diseases this season.

3 deaths caused by the most severe, neglected forms of pneumonia have been registered in medical institutions of the republic. Adequate treatment was impossible due to the fact that the patients had appealed for medical aid too late.

According to an arrangement between the Ministry of Health Care of the Republic of Abkhazia and Rospotrebnadzor of the Russian Federation for Krasnodar territory quotas in RF Rospotrebnadzor’s laboratory in the city of Sochi have been allocated for examining biomaterial of the patients suffering droplet diseases. The quotas have been allocated free of charge and are sufficient.

The pharmacy department of the Ministry of Health Care of the Republic of Abkhazia has held a number of meetings with pharmacological organizations representatives from October till December of last year where heads of pharmaceutical institutions were focused on the list of necessary medicines for this season and on the price policy..

01.21.2009  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, “Thank you for creating conditions for our children to show the talent and love for the country!”

The Second International “Treasure of Narts” children’s fine-arts competition-festival that has gathered over 500 children from Abkhazia, Moscow, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, Ingushetia, the Chechen Republic, the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, as well as Syria, Jordan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and other countries is over.

In 2008-2009 children from Abkhazia and the Abkhaz Diaspora in Moscow took an active part in the competition-festival. The participants’ creative works passed competitive selection and were included into the exposition of an international mobile art exhibition which was a success in South Federal District’s regions, Moscow, Istanbul (Turkey). In Abkhazia the exhibition was a success in the following cities: in Sukhum - in “Ainar” House of Creative Work, in Gagra - in a recreation centre, in New Athos - at an art school.

The competition’s main goal is to develop the rising generation’s interest in history of national cultures, to reveal and support talented creative young people, as well as to establish and strengthen cultural and international ties between educational institutions of Russia, Abkhazia and other countries.

The competition-festival includes an extensive program allowing participants to open the talent to the full. Great love for their land runs through children’s creative works. Such competitions promote strengthening of intercultural ties, mutual understanding between children from different countries, as well as development of respect for one of the most ancient cultural heritages – the Nart Sagas. This is a world cultural heritage of the Caucasus; we learn our traditions by means of it. The Nart Sagas are a spiritual work of the entire Caucasus; it is a contribution into the world culture of many generations of nations living here.

The competition’s organizing committee thanks the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Abkhazia N. C. Logua, the Sukhum Education Department deputy head A. Z. Tarkil, the director of the exhibition centre E. Arsalia, the chairman of the Union of artists of Abkhazia V. Dzhenia, the director of “Ainar” House of Creative Work V. Katsba, the Children's foundation of Abkhazia and N. Tarba, L. D. Ashuba-Hagba personally, the New Athos art school employees and the head of the New Athos city administration, the director of Gagra’s Recreation centre, as well as B. Chagava, principals and staff of Achandara and Dzhgerd schools for their assistance in organizing and holding the international mobile exhibition.

The competition revealed a lot of talented children. The winners and participants received diplomas, memorable prizes and costly presents. The winners of the Second International “Treasure of Narts” competition-festival are: Tsargush Azamat (village of Achandara), Ashuba Narsou (Sukhum House of Youth). Their works are presented at an exhibition in the Moscow House of Nationalities. The Achandara and Dzhgerd schools, as well as the Moscow Abkhaz Sunday school received diplomas “For active participation in the competition”.

Within the festival’s framework a musical performance of Abkhaz singers will be held in the Moscow House of Nationalities on January 22. The concert program includes both young musicians already recognized in Russia and abroad and absolutely young performers, who intend to present the audience with a part of original creative works, to immerse into the atmosphere of the rich Caucasian culture.

The organizers assume that the concert will give an incentive to opening of an international musical festival of Caucasian performers.

01.21.2009  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 Statementnfrom the press-service for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, On January 20, 2010 a regular meeting within the framework of the mechanism on incident prevention and response with participation of representatives of the Abkhaz, Georgian, Russian parties, as well as the EU and the United Nations representatives took place in the city of Gal.

Since J. Verbeke ended his activity and till a new UN representative is appointed, the pentalateral meetings are chaired by Marko Bianchini serving in the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

The parties agreed to hold meetings once in three weeks for the period until a permanent representative of the United Nations is appointed.

At the meeting the Abkhaz party once again brought up the question of final resolution of incident with the “Buket” vessel capture together with the cargo. The Abkhaz party insisted on not removing the item from the agenda until the problem was solved once and for all.

The Georgian party again expressed concern in connection with restrictions to cross the border on the Ingur River. In particular, it was a question of the recent case with detention of schoolchildren who were going to school bypassing the main road through the border.

R. Kishmaria once again explained that several check-points were located on the border and schoolchildren could cross the border freely in proper places.

Answering the question put by the Georgian party of a bus line recommencement over the Ingur bridge, R. Kishmaria stated that this problem couldn’t be solved today and the parties could return to it only after the border between Abkhazia and Georgia functioned properly.

The parties decided to hold the following meeting on February 9, 2010 in Gal.

01.20.2009  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, Young people’s desire to participate in the country’s political life and the main thing, their aspiration for receiving high-quality education deserve attention and encouragement, the President Sergey Bagapsh said at a meeting with “Young Abkhazia” youth political movement representatives.

The head of the state expressed readiness to also meet with other youth associations’ representatives. “We are ready to meet not only with “Young Abkhazia”, but with active members of other youth organizations of the country”, the President said.

Bagapsh told the meeting participants about plans to open a Youth Center in Sukhum where “young people can gather together and discuss problems that worry them”.

Among the problems giving special concern, he named drug addiction and road accidents which lead to death of people. “Because of these two troubles we have lost as many people as during the war”, the President ascertained. “If drivers and their passengers were fastened by seat belts, only that would save lives of 60 % of young people in road accident”.

And to those who deliver drugs to the country, the President predicts the biggest imprisonment terms “whatever merits to the Fatherland they had”.

“A president’s nephew, a minister’s son or whoever else – all are equal to the law. The guilty of drug dealing must be punished according to the law. We shouldn’t put up with this evil or speak about difficulties of the post-war period”, Bagapsh emphasized.

Young people asked the President about the stage of oil fields exploitation in Abkhazia. “We have only signed an agreement on intentions with Rosneft. It is necessary to understand that according to the agreement prospecting will be done. It’s another question if oil is discovered or not. Prospecting works will be done 11-12 km away from the coast on depth to 900 meters”, the President specified. “Despite mixed reaction in the society, I should say that all states of the Black Sea basin – Georgia, Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia do prospecting works on the sea shelf. In this situation we should also know what we possess. One thing is for sure we will not extract oil on land though even before the war the highest quality oil has been discovered in the territory of the Gal district”.

According to Bagapsh, Rosneft plans to construct up to 12 gasoline stations with auto parts shops, car wash, cafes, etc. in the territory of the republic.

“Until recently there has been a monopolist in the republic who imported gasoline into the country. The shipping company started it in difficult post-war times and could supply the country with gasoline, though the quality wasn’t the best. But now we have a more qualitative gasoline supplier and there will be no monopolists in this sphere any longer”, the President concluded.

The "Young Abkhazia” active members were interested whether money for road repair in the city of Ochamchira is stipulated in the budget; in the state of affairs with issuing passports to the Gal district residents; in the president’s opinion regarding the multi-party system development in the republic, etc.

01.20.2009  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 Scientists from the Department of conservation of historical and cultural heritage of Abkhazia discovered a bronze epoch barrow when inspecting remains of the Great Abkhaz wall

Sukhum, Scientists from the Department of conservation of historical and cultural heritage of Abkhazia discovered a bronze epoch barrow when inspecting remains of the Great Abkhaz wall, the department head Vadim Bzhania said today.

Scientists hope that the discovered bronze epoch barrow will reveal its secrets.

According to Abkhaz historians, the Great Abkhaz wall is a grandiose monument of the Byzantine period of the Abkhaz history. The wall stretched from the Kelasur River along the valleys and mountains of Abkhazia up to the Ingur River’s mouth. It was 160 km long. The number of towers strengthening it made several hundreds. Each such a tower was a small unassailable fortress, 8-12 m high with three rows of loopholes. Today rare ruins of separate towers and fortresses are what remained from the impressive medieval defensive installation surrounding Sukhum. The Kelasur tower is one of such towers. Construction of the Great Abkhaz wall started with it. 

Vadim Bzhania said that from the beginning of January the Department employees have been studying the valley of the Kelasur River as periodically they receive information on destruction of remains of ancient towers of medieval fortification system.

“Unfortunately, during the post-war period the river and people have destroyed four towers which were at different levels of the Kelasur valley. Today only six towers remain, fortunately there’s no new destruction for the time being”, Bzhania added. It is difficult for archeologists to reach there; they have to go on foot to where those unique objects of ancient architecture are located. It is a question of the left bank (Bagmaran, Gulripsh district).

Vadim Bzhania said that, despite difficulties, they would keep an eye on preservation of the object’s remains.

01.20.2009  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Russia hopes Turkey will be the first pro-western state to recognize Abkhazia, and serious relevant work is under way, Alexander Rar, European expert for energy and CIS, stated in his interview with 1news.az, speaking of Turkish Premier Recep Erdogan’s visit to Moscow.

According to him, “a most serious dynamic policy is being implemented in the South Caucasus and Black Sea region, but it is not only Nagorno-Karabakh that is in question.” The expert believes the Nagorno-Karabakh problem to be “of secondary importance” in this context.

“The foremost topic is a fierce struggle for control over energy resources – which side will be the first to lay lines for oil and gas transit from the East to the West. The outcome is near. Very many players are competing in this field,” Rar said.

This is the reason why Russia is forming closer relations with Turkey and doing its best for Turkey, not Ukraine, to serve as a transit country for gas supplied to Europe and “thus prevent any attempts to construct any other gas pipelines through Ukraine.”

As regards the aim of RF Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit to Armenia, Yerevan “is not so important for Moscow now, but Turkey is.”

“Armenia is unable to seriously contribute to this big game. Rather, it can perhaps be a hindrance to Russia. Turkey is playing a much more important role, and Russia has focused its policy on this factor,” the expert said.

01.12.2010  News.am

 Abkhazia is ready to discuss the issues of development of economic and cultural cooperation with Jordan

Sukhum, The President of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh met in SuKhum with a group of  businessmen from Jordan.

Welcoming the guests, Sergey Bagapsh said that Abkhazia was ready to discuss the issues  of development of economic and cultural cooperation with Jordan. "We are ready to discuss your proposals and to share the views regarding mutually benificial cooperation", the President said.

The members of the Jordanian delegation congratulated the President on the recognition of independence of Abkhazia already by four countries. The Jordanian businessmen were interested in the possibilities of opening air communication, a pharmaceutical company, and a broadcasting company.

The President admitted that "for attracting foreign investments into the country, first  of  all, it is necessary to solve the problem of communications, namely to open air and railway  communication".

The President seconded the idea of establishing cultural contacts between Abkhazia and Jordan, as well as of realizing a joint TV project, adding that "Abkhazia, certainly, needs a wide satellite broadcasting for all the countries where the Abkhaz Diaspora lives".

A repatriate from Jordan Ali Bgazhba said that there was an arrangement with the "Caucasus" State national dance ensemble headed by Kandid Tarba about a tour in Jordan.

01.11.2009  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 Sergey Shamba appreciated highly "Doctors Without Doctors" activity in Abkhazia, expressed readiness for further cooperation

Sukhum, The Minister for Foreign Affairs Sergey Shamba met with the regional co-ordinator of the "Doctors without borders" international organisation in Abkhazia madam Maria Luisa Tucker.

Mrs. Tucker informed the Minister on continuing projects on provision of specialized medical institutions of Abkhazia with medicines for treating stable forms of tuberculosis. "Doctors without borders" also realize a project on medcine distribution among the needy.

Sergey Shamba appreciated highly the "Doctors without borders" activity in Abkhazia and expressed readiness for further cooperation.

01.11.2009  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, The Great Patriotic War veterans living in Sukhum received a good New Year present. The deputy general director of JSC "Atomenergoprom" Jumber Tkebuchava handed them over a well printed calendar dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the great Victory, 12 best Soviet movies about the war and a DVD-player to view them.

The chairman of the Republican Council of war, labor and the Armed Forces Veterans Alexander Taria thanked the fellow townsman. "We will surely show all the veterans these wonderful movies which revive episodes of war with the fascist invadors", Taria  told.

Jumber Tkebuchava's one more present is kept in the city Council's office – "the Red Star" newspaper file from the Great Patriotic War time, the Sukhum Administration's site says.

01.11.2009  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, Georgian politicians both who are in power and in opposition often bluff,  the Foreign Minister  of Abkhazia Sergey Shamba told journalists, commenting on  the Georgian mass-media information that one of Georgia's opposition leaders, the country's ex-Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli intends to meet with the President of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh in the near future.

"There were no offers to organize such a meeting  in Sukhum, but even if there is a respective request, I believe, such a meeting is unreal",  Shamba specified.

"Moreover, Noghaideli's statements that he has met with the Abkhaz Diaspora in Moscow don't represent the facts", the head of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia added. Shamba specified that Nohgaideli had met with the Georgian refugees from Abkhazia and called it a meeting with the Abkhaz Diaspora, he explained.

01.10.2009  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 Abkhaz folklore ensembles participated in "POLYPHONY OF THE CAUCASUS" festival in Sochi

The Abkhaz women's "Gunda" folklore  ensemble  and men's "Chegem" choir  visited Sochi where participated in the "Polyphony of the Caucasus" festival.

The festival organized by the Directorate of festival programs of the Sochi philharmonic society under patronage of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation was  held  from January 4 till January 6 in the city of Sochi's Winter theatre.

Musicians from Azerbaijan,  the North Caucasus republics, Krasnodar territory and Moscow were among the festival participants.

Concerts within the framework of the "Polyphony of the Caucasus" festival were also held in Lazarevskoye, Krasnaya Polyana and Sukhum.

01.10.2009  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

 Abkhazia received the highest rating following the results of voting held  within the framework of the BestRatedCountry.com International Internet project.

Sukhum, Abkhazia has received the highest rating following the results of 2009 voting held  within the framework of the BestRatedCountry.com International Internet project.

The project aims at defermining a rating of the countries Internet users take an  interest in most often . The rating of the countries is determined on the basis of open voting of participants worldwide.

Abkhazia has won the 2009 rating of the countries.

Following the results of the 2009 voting of participants from 124 countries Abkhazia has received the biggest number of votes – 1562000.

01.10.2009  Official Site of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia

Dear compatriots all over the world!

We wish the entire Abkhaz nation prosperity and a peaceful life!

With all my heart we wish you Happy New Year! We wish sound health and happiness, realization of all contemplated plans, big success, and recognition of the Republic of Abkhazia in all countries!

We wish the leadership of the Republic of Abkhazia, again elected by the overwhelming majority of the people of the Republic of Abkhazia, successful continuation of the way they have started, prosperity and a peaceful life to all our compatriots!

On behalf of the “Pro Abkhazia” Association,

Member of the IAAAN executive committee

Zeki Kapba

Dear compatriots all over the world!

We wish the entire Abkhaz nation prosperity and a peaceful life!

With all my heart I wish you Happy New Year and Merry Christmas! I wish you sound health and happiness!

The outgoing year Abkhazia achieved considerable success in the sphere of foreign policy. Let all these efforts of the foreign policy of Abkhazia where Russia renders invaluable assistance bring more achievements the upcoming year!
I wish dear compatriots peace, prosperity and international recognition!

Yours faithfully,

The Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Abkhazia in Germany,

Khibla Amichba

 New year congratulations from the president of the republic of Abkhazia S.V.Bagapsh

Dear compatriots!

2009 will be a history in several minutes.

One can say with confidence that as a whole it was stable and successful for our country.

The executive and legislative branches of power have been cooperating fruitfully. It is the well-being of the country’s population that was the ultimate goal of the measures taken by the state.

We have been working for the social component of the budget to grow simultaneously with the progress in the economic development.

The approved standard acts are aimed at financial support to large families. The state solved social problems of widows of the Patriotic War of the Abkhaz nation’s victims, incapacitated members of the families of lost defenders of the Motherland, single mothers, war invalids and heroes.

The outgoing year much more recourses than before were allocated for the development of the spheres of education and health care. Repair work in education establishments, hospitals is underway. The communication sphere in Abkhazia’s cities and villages is being restored.

Our efforts were aimed at strengthening of material and technical basis of the law-enforcement system and security agencies of the state.

Despite the world financial crisis, the state of the national economy allows us to solve not only routine problems, but to plan medium-term programs.

An insufficient economic development of some republic’s districts is still a problem. We’ll have a lot to do to breathe life into the Eastern region.

Dear fellow citizens!

Our state continues to follow the balanced foreign policy. The outgoing year was dedicated to strengthening and active development of friendly relations with the Russian Federation. A number of documents have been signed and the mechanism of intergovernmental interaction in the vitally important spheres has been developed.

We have been developing contacts with the countries which could recognize independence of the Republic of Abkhazia. This year we have established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Nauru.

Our Army is among the major guarantees of stability and preservation of the state’s security. As well as the outgoing year, the government will take henceforth all possible measures to strengthen its fighting efficiency. The issue of reforming the army taking into consideration the real situation around Abkhazia and existing threats remains urgent in this context.

We have gone through many difficulties on the way to freedom and we are ready to overcome new ones with dignity, whatever difficult they are.

The country’s presidential elections were held this year. Those were not the first presidential elections in Abkhazia. But they were extremely important due to several factors.

First of all, because for the first time Abkhazia voted as a recognized country. It was important for us to show that we have been building a democratic legal state where the supremacy of law is axiomatic.

I must admit that the elections process itself surprised me pleasantly- today I can say with absolute confidence: political culture is being formed in our state. I want to believe that it will become a good tradition.

We are obliged to recognize the majority choice, the choice of the multinational Abkhaz nation. Only this way the country can be kept from internal upheavals.

Dear compatriots!

At this moment when we are waiting at a festive table for the New Year to come, soldiers and officers of the Abkhaz army, the law-enforcement officers, health care and life-support enterprises employees continue to fulfill their hard duty.

They do their best for our festive mood to be saddened by nothing.

Highly appreciating this hard work, I wish them sound health and success!

Let the upcoming year become more successful for all of us!

Both on weekdays and on holidays we remember the heroes who have given up their lives for freedom and independence of Apsny.

Each and every citizen of the country is grateful to our soldiers who could protect the Fatherland. Today they also work for the good of Abkhazia.

Dear compatriots in Russia, the former USSR and foreign countries!

We start the upcoming two thousand ten having real prerequisites for economic and political progress.

Let God give us strength to solve the problems we face! I wish you warmly Happy New Year. I wish every family well-being, health and success in all good causes!

Happy New Year!