Moscow, The head of PACE invited representatives from Abkhazia and South Ossetia on Monday to attend the assembly's next session in Strasbourg aimed at restoring dialogue between Russia and Georgia.

The Ad hoc Committee of the Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) held a meeting in Valencia, Spain, to discuss the current state in Russia and Georgia relations.

Following the meeting PACE President Lluis Maria de Puig welcomed the readiness by the Russian and Georgian delegations to continue dialogue and invited representatives of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to attend the next session in Strasbourg in late April.

"We therefore decided to involve representatives of the Abkhaz and South Ossetian communities in our next meeting, which will take place in Strasbourg on the occasion of the spring Session from 27 to 30 April," PACE quoted de Puig as saying in a statement.

Russia recognized the republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states on August 26, 2008, two weeks after the end of a five-day war with Georgia. The conflict began when Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia in a bid to bring it back under central control.

Nicaragua has so far been the only other country to follow Russia in recognizing South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia split from Georgia in the early 1990s, and most people in both republics have also held Russian citizenship for a number of years.

03.30.2009  RIA Novosti

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov met on March 26 with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who came to Moscow on a visit to attend the Special Conference on Afghanistan under the Aegis of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Considering the topicality of this problem, the sides paid special attention to the situation in Afghanistan, including presidential elections in the country. The interlocutors also discussed issues relating to the Middle East settlement, the UN’s role in Kosovo and the Korean Peninsula nuclear and missile problems. Sergey Lavrov and Ban Ki-moon exchanged views regarding continuation of the UN presence in Georgia and Abkhazia, taking into account the new realities in Transcaucasia.

Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed Russia’s invariable policy of enhancing the role of the United Nations in addressing topical international problems and highly assessed its contribution to the maintenance of peace and stability, the ensuring of sustainable development and the struggle against global climate change.

Sergey Lavrov informed Ban Ki-moon in detail about the establishment and fostering of a dialogue with the new US administration on the entire range of bilateral relations and on the disarmament file.

The head of the Russian foreign affairs agency expressed gratitude to the UN Secretary General for his opening of a cycle of lectures, The Golden Collection, being conducted jointly by Russia’s Foreign Ministry and the Mezhdunarodnaya Zhizn magazine.

03.27.2009  Information and Press Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation

Sochi, Alyaksandr Lukashenka met with Sergei Bagapsh, president of Abkhazia, in Russia`s Black Sea coastal resort of Sochi on March 23. The talks focused on ways of developing trade, economic and cultural cooperation, the Belarusian leader’s press office said.

"The president of Russia and I have already discussed the problems that exist here, in this region, from an economic viewpoint and concern Belarus," Mr. Lukashenka was quoted as saying at the meeting. "There`re many issues to be discussed, above all, economic ones. There is always more work to be done after independence is acquired. We`ll be glad if more problems that exist in the region will be solved with the help of Belarus."
 

Mr. Bagapsh, in his part, thanked Mr. Lukashenka for the opportunity to meet with him. "We`re ready for close cooperation with Belarus in the economic sphere," he was quoted as saying. Last year Abkhazia imported tractors and loading equipment from Belarus, and this year Abkhazia is interested in purchasing a large number of vehicles manufactured by the Minsk Automobile Factory, he noted, BelaPAN said.
 

"We're ready to buy a shipment worth one billion Russian rubles," he said. "We can afford this today. We'll work with Belarus. This is convenient for us and the quality of the [Belarusian-made] equipment is high."
 

Messrs. Lukashenka and Bagapsh also exchanged opinions about cooperation in higher education and measures to strengthen the two countries` ties in the area of tourism, including children`s respite holidays, the press office said.

While talking to reporters in Brussels on March 16, Javier Solana, the European Union`s high representative for the common foreign and security policy, said that the non-recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is important for the Belarus-EU relationship.
 

“As you know, we do not recognize them, and we are not going to change our position,” Dr. Solana said. “We would like everybody who has relationship with us to have the same position.”
 

Belarus’ House of Representatives was expected to consider recognizing the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, at its forthcoming spring session, but this issue has not yet been placed on the agenda of the session. According to Syarhey Maskevich, chairman of the House’s International Affairs Committee, the issue may be postponed to the fall session.

03.24.2009  Belarusskiye Novosti

Russia will not back away from its recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in order to begin a dialogue on relations with Georgia, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. David Bakradze, a spokesman for the Georgian parliament, said on Thursday that Tbilisi was ready to begin a dialogue with Moscow, but only starting from the principle of Georgia's territorial integrity, meaning Russia should reverse its decision to recognize the two former Georgian republics.

"This is a new element in the approach, but it must not be on the condition of territorial integrity. There is no way back. Abkhazia and South Ossetia have been recognized by Russia as independent states and they should be treated equally. Other approaches are unacceptable," spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said.

At a meeting with Georgian students, Bakradze said it was possible to solve all problems with Abkhazians and South Ossetians only if they "are part of Georgia."

Georgia severed diplomatic ties with Russia in late last August after Moscow recognized the breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. The move followed a five-day war with Georgia, which began when Tbilisi attacked South Ossetia on August 8, 2008, in a bid to bring it back under central control.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia have had de-facto independence since they broke away from Georgia after the bloody post-Soviet conflicts in the early 1990s.

03.23.2009 ossetia-war.com

Sukhum, Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Abkhazia is gravely concerned by the fact of resuming supplies of armaments to Georgia and the preparations for new armed actions that are going on in the zone of responsibility of the European mission of observers, the ministry said in a statement Friday.

Abkhazian leadership views the actions of the European monitoring mission as the ones "conniving at Georgia's aggressive intentions, which turns the Europeans into a party to the conflict."

"In a bid to destabilize the situation in the districts of Abkhazia located close to the border, the Georgian leadership has resumed the tactics of terrorist and subversive warfare against Abkhazia's population and state organizations," the ministry said.

"To carry out these provocations, the Georgian authorities have set up a special unit affiliated with the Interior Ministry," the report said. "The unit consists of up to 300 specially trained fighters."

"Being based in the immediate vicinity of the Georgian-Abkhazian border, this special unit plans armed provocations against Abkhazia's forces of law and order deployed in the Kodor Gorge and against the ethnic Svanetian population returning there," the ministry said.

03.20.2009  Itar-Tass

Yurga Training Ground, Kemerovo Region, Russian military bases in South Ossetia and Abkhazia are formed, the Russian Ground Troops' Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Boldyrev told Itar-Tass on Friday.

The bases are formed, and the process of their development is under way now, he said.

The fourth and seventh Russian bases deployed respectively in South Ossetia and Abkhazia will hold study tactical exercises with firing practice in the summer of this year, he said.

03.20.2009  Itar-Tass

Sukhum, The European Union does not recognise Abkhazia as an independent state, but is ready to communicate with it and work on specific issues: in the sphere of healthcare, cooperation with civil society, giving young people an opportunity to join the European programme of student exchange for education, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby said at a meeting with Abkhazian Prime Minister Alexander Ankuab.

During three years the European Commission financed programmes for support of small businesses, agriculture and energy in the Gali and Ochamchira districts of the republic. According to EU officials, today the possibility for their continuation exists. The European Union is ready to provide 4 million euros in aid to Abkhazia, Semneby added.

Alexander Ankuab said for his part that the “non-recognition of Abkhazia by the European Union in no way hinders the development of the Abkhazian state.” It does not mean that “we will not be developing and that you will not be able to participate in this process,” he said. “We are ready to consider specific proposals. It we speak about economic programmes they must be specific and targeted. If we take healthcare here there are questions which you can help us settle,” the Abkhazian prime minister added.

Ankuab cited an example of fruitful cooperation with the Russian Federation in the rehabilitation of the Gali, Ochamchira and Tkuarchali districts. According to him, “last year alone, over 2 billion US dollars were allotted for these districts.” “Despite the financial crisis, in 2009 the sum of Russian investment programmes in the social sphere accounted for 833 million roubles, let alone private businesses that are successfully working in Abkhazia,” Ankuab stated.

According to Peter Semneby’s mission statement posted on the European Commission’s website, the latest enlargement of the EU has brought the South Caucasus neighbourhood even closer to the EU. The new proximity of this neighbourhood along with the region's geographic location between the Black Sea and the Caspian, between Russia, Turkey and Iran, and as a link between Europe and Asia makes the South Caucasus a key strategic region for the EU.

Following the outbreak of open hostilities between Georgia and Russia in August 2008, the EU took immediate steps to secure a ceasefire, stabilise the situation and facilitate political talks between the parties. This engagement demonstrates just how important the EU considers the region to be.

As EUSR for the South Caucasus, I work to further the EU’s agenda in the countries of the region - Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia - as well as to contribute to the development of a comprehensive EU policy for the South Caucasus. Much of this work is undertaken jointly with the European Commission, in particular in support of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) Action Plan for the three countries.

“My mandate includes assisting the three countries in carrying out political and economic reforms, notably in the fields of rule of law, democratisation, human rights and good governance. I work closely with the Commission in this endeavour,” the statement says.

“The EU has been heavily involved in working to resolve the long-standing conflicts over Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Following the outbreak of an armed conflict between Georgia and Russia in August 2008, the EU appointed an EUSR for the Crisis in Georgia and deployed an EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM). I work in tandem with the EUSR for the Crisis in Georgia and provide local political guidance to the EUMM. Even after the war, I will continue to support the implementation of the confidence-building measures that have been agreed jointly with the Commission and myself. This work aims to contribute to the efforts for the peaceful settlement of the conflicts,” Semneby stated.

“A key consideration for the EU in Georgia remains the continuation of democratic reforms, in particular in the area of the rule of law. As the elections in Georgia have not resolved political differences within society, I am actively engaged in promoting constructive political dialogue between the government and opposition - a prerequisite for long-lasting political stability in Georgia. I am also involved in promoting the development of free and independent media,” Semneby noted.

The EUSR structure includes the EU Border Support Team, which has been developing a border management strategy and implementation plan for Georgia and is building the capacity of Georgian border guards. The work of the BST has proved successful in moving Georgia towards best European practices and standards for integrated border management, according to the official.

“In Armenia, I promote the ongoing democratisation process, the rule of law and media freedom in order to facilitate the reforms necessary for making Armenia a vibrant and functioning democracy,” he noted.

According to Semneby, “I also facilitate contacts between officials and civil society in Armenia and Turkey with a view to addressing outstanding issues and providing the basis for the re-establishment of relations. Improved bilateral relations between the two countries would contribute to the overall stability and prosperity of the South Caucasus.”

03.20.2009  Itar-Tass

Moscow, Russia on Tuesday signed agreements with Abkhazia and South Ossetia on giving the republics financial aid in socio-economic development and balancing their budgets.

The deals between the finance ministries provide for Abkhazia to receive 2.36 billion rubles ($68 million) from the Russian federal budget and South Ossetia 2.8 billion rubles ($81 million).

Russia recognized the republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states on August 26, 2008, two weeks after the end of a five-day war with Georgia. The conflict began when Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia in a bid to bring it back under central control.

The Russian Finance Ministry said on Monday that the agreements were based on the friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance treaties that Russia and the two Caucasus republics signed in Moscow on September 18, 2008.

The ministry said that despite the overall cuts in the federal budget, the level of financial assistance to the republics had not been reduced, and added that South Ossetia would also receive 8.5 billion rubles ($246 million) to rebuild housing, social amenities and utilities damaged as a result of the August 2008 war.

Nicaragua has so far been the only other country to follow Russia in recognizing South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

03.17.2009  RIA Novosti

Moscow, Abkhazian President Sergei Bagapsh said on Tuesday that Abkhazia had no plans to become a part of Russia, the Russian daily paper Izvestia reported.

The paper said that Sergei Bagapsh made the statement at the meeting with the vice-president of the non-governmental International Crisis Group, Alain Delatroz, and the director of the organization's office for the Caucasus region, Lawrence Sheets.

"We are building an independent, legal and democratic state and are not planning to backtrack from this path," Bagapsh said.

"We have no illusions that tomorrow the whole world will recognize us, but it is important for us that the world's largest country, Russia, has recognized us," he added.

Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia, another former Georgian republic, as independent states two weeks after the end of a five-day war with Georgia last August. Fighting began when Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia in a bid to bring it back under central control.

Bagapsh also said Abkhazia was ready for cooperation with any country wishing "to establish normal relations." However, he also said that Abkhazia would not hold talks "with the Saakashvili regime."

Nicaragua is the only to country to have joined Russia in recognizing the two republics.

03.17.2009  RIA Novosti

Sukhum, Abkhazia has no plans to accede to Russia or any other state, President Sergei Bagapsh told a meeting with the vice-president of the International Crisis Group, Alain Delatroz, and the director of ICG Office for Caucasus, Lawrence Sheets on Tuesday.

“We are building an independent, legal and democratic state and have no plans to sidetrack this path whatever efforts this would cost,” he said.

“The country’s authorities will conduct no talks with the Saakashvili regime,” Bagapsh said.

He urged further presence of the UN Mission in Abkhazia and spoke against EU observers.

“The EU unequivocally supports the Georgian side,” Bagapsh said. Moreover, “EU member-states reject entry visas to Abkhazian citizens,” which is “inadmissible and such practices have occurred for a long while.”

Along with this Bagapsh underlined that “Abkhazia is ready for cooperation with all countries that would like to establish normal relations with it.” “We harbour no illusions that tomorrow the whole world will recognize us. But it is very important for us that the world’s biggest country – Russia - recognized us,” he said.

03.17.2009  Itar-Tass

Moscow, Russia will provide 2.36 billion rubles ($70 million) in financial assistance to Abkhazia and 2.8 billion rubles ($80 million) to South Ossetia from the federal budget, the Finance Ministry said on Monday.

Russia recognized the republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states on August 26, 2008, two weeks after the end of a five-day war with Georgia. Fighting began when Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia in a bid to bring it back under central control.

It said agreements between the finance ministries of Russia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia on the provision of financial assistance for the republics' socio-economic development would be signed on Tuesday.

The agreements will be based on the treaties of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance that Russia and the two Caucasus republics signed in Moscow on September 18, 2008.

The Russian ministry said that despite the overall cuts that had affected the federal budget, the volume of financial assistance to the republics in 2009 would remain as originally planned.

In addition, South Ossetia will be granted 8.5 billion rubles ($245 million) for reconstruction of housing, social amenities and utilities damaged as a result of the August 2008 war.

Nicaragua has so far been the only other country to follow Russia in recognizing South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

03.16.2009  RIA Novosti

Moscow, The chair of the PACE committee on migration, refugees and population, Corien Jonker, is due to arrive in the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinval on March 13-14, the organization said on its website.

Jonker will arrive "as part of the follow up to Resolution 1648 on the humanitarian consequences of the war between Georgia and Russia and is due to meet with South Ossetia's authorities and ombudsman David Sanakoyev," the Parliamentary Assembly Council of Europe's statement said.

The official is to travel to the Tskhinval region and to Akhalgor, a town near the South Ossetian border with Georgia. She is also scheduled to meet with the representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Russia recognized the republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states on August 26, 2008, two weeks after the end of a five-day war with Georgia. Fighting began when Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia in a bid to bring it back under central control.

In January, PACE condemned Moscow's recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and called for Russia to withdraw its recognition of the two republics.

PACE lawmakers are to discuss the situation surrounding South Ossetia and Abkhazia in April.

03.10.2009  RIA Novosti

Moscow, President Dmitry Medvedev received Abkhazian President Sergei Bagapsh in the Kremlin on Wednesday.

“I would like to discuss with you the state development in the republic,” Medvedev told Bagapsh at the beginning of their meeting. He reminded that the two countries had exchanged ambassadors.

“At present a resolution is being drafted on the opening of diplomatic missions in Moscow and Sukhum,” Medvedev said. In his opinion, the diplomatic work is going on in a normal way. “There are more serious, more important things we are going to discuss now,” he added.

The Russian president congratulated Bagapsh on the occasion of his birthday and wished him good health and peace.

Bagapsh thanked Medvedev for the congratulations and added that “work in Abkhazia is going on in all spheres according to the schedule.”

Bagapsh was born on March 4, 1949, in Sukhum. In January 2005 he was elected president of Abkhazia, which lived through severe trials during the past few years because of the hostile policy pursued by the Georgian leaders.

Last summer, when Georgia started an aggression against South Ossetia, the Abkhazian leaders appealed to the Federal Assembly to recognize Abkhazia as a sovereign and independent state.

On August 25 the Federation Council and the State Duma adopted a corresponding appeal to the Russian president. On August 26 President Medvedev signed a decree on the recognition by Russia of the independence of the two republics.

On September 9 Russia officially established diplomatic relations with Abkhazia. On September 17 Russia and Abkhazia signed a treaty of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance.

03.04.2009  Itar-Tass