Abkhazia does not believe Saakashvili pledges not to use force: FM

Sukhum, The statement of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili in the European Parliament that Georgia will not use force in the settlement of conflicts in the South Caucasus “is not a signal for the start of a peaceful dialogue for Abkhazia,” Abkhazian Foreign Minister Maxim Gunjia commented on Wednesday.

The foreign minister said he did not react to “Saakashvili’s statements with enthusiasm, as Georgia has never demonstrated positive intentions towards Abkhazia in the past 18 years”.

“We have seen nothing from Georgia but wars and provocations. That is why we treat Saakashvili’s statement with caution. Let us check his words through concrete moves,” the foreign minister told reporters here.

Addressing a session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday, Saakashvili said Georgia “is interested in beginning serious negotiations with the Russian leadership,” and besides “it comes out with a unilateral initiative to never use force for the restoration of its territorial integrity”.

“Tbilisi is ready to a comprehensive dialogue with Russian partners,” he noted.

Russia will trust the promises of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili to stay away from the use of force when they are placed on paper and take legal effect, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday in a comment on Saakashvili's speech in the European parliament.

"If one puts aside the political gewgawry and the collection of nice-looking literary quotations, the speech produces a really dual impression," the commentary said. "On the one hand, one would really like to believe that the claims on renunciation of the use of force reflect recognition of the truths that Russia and other members of the international community have been trying to drive home to the Georgian leadership for many long years, namely, that the methods based on the application of force and military resolution of problems are inadmissible and criminal in today's world."

"Still the manner, in which this ostensibly 'unilateral solemn pledge' is presented, cannot but put one on alert," the Foreign Ministry said. "Saakashvili goes on with his attempts to convince the international community of the existence of a conflict of some kind between Russia and Georgia, while the genuine case in hand is the many-years-long conflict between the Georgian government and the peoples of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which ended in a final independent self-determination of the two countries after Georgia's aggressive military adventure in August 2008," the commentary said.

"Russia continues believing that the only way to peace and security in Southern Caucasus lies through a legal affirmation of the commitment to the non-use of force between Tbilisi and South Ossetia, as well as Tbilisi and Abkhazia," the ministry said.

11.24.2010  Itar-Tass

In a sign of Georgia preparing a campaign to thwart the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi three committees of the Georgian parliament met behind closed doors last week to decide how best to persuade the international community to relocate the  games because  of the possibility of conflict in neighboring Abkhazia and also for environmental reasons.

Another trump card in Tbilisi’s gamble is the fact that the 2014 Games come exactly 150 years after the Circassians, a Muslim indigenous people in the northwest Caucasus,  scattered across the globe following their defeat against the Russian Empire in the mid-19th century.

In Moscow, political analyst Yepifantsev believes that the Georgian argumentation simply holds no water.

For a whole two centuries the Georgians implored the Russian Czars to bring  their small mountainous kingdom onboard… When Georgia eventually became part of the Russian state under King Georgy XII, it transpired there was no direct link between the two. Russia started looking for such a passage across the North Caucasus which is the main reason why the Caucasus war broke out in the middle of the 19th century.

During that war Georgian officers in the Russian employ served honestly and courageously fighting the North Caucasus insurgents. Georgia now says it was invaded by Russia, suffered from Russian oppression and sympathized with the North Caucasus nations. This is not true, Sergei says.

In Tbilisi, a  onetime parliamentary speaker and now a prominent opposite leader Nino Burdzhanadze argues that attempts to thwart the Sochi Olympics is bad policy because it won’t bring back the lost territories no matter how badly they are wanted back.

Russia should realize that the loss of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is very painfully felt in Georgia… On the other hand I don’t think that trying to relocate the Sochi Olympics will so us any good. Saakashvili’s got to realize, just like  everyone else, that  provoking Russia will take us nowhere…

Back in Moscow, political commentator Pavel Zolotarev believes that the Georgian threats should be taken seriously.

What the Georgian MPs are saying is just hot hair, but their Western-trained spooks are still able to do a lot of harm here with all kinds of the so-called “special operations”. What is happening now is an attempt to create an atmosphere where terrorist attacks will be seen as a struggle to liberate “occupied“ territories…

What Saakashvili and his team does next depends much on the West,  which appears to be pretty much divided on this matter. On the one hand, they do not want to quarrel with Russia over Abkhazia and South Ossetia and are unlikely to boycott the 2014 Games.

On the other, the West keeps insisting on  restoring Georgia’s territorial integrity. All this meaning that President Saakashvili is  free to interpret these mixed signals just the way he deems fit…

11.24.2010  The Voice of Russia

Georgia must sign an agreement on using no force against Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the head of the Russian Duma Foreign Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosachev told journalists.

He said he did not believe that Mikhail Saakashvili was telling the truth when he said that Tbilisi would never use force against Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

“This is exactly what he was saying a few hours before his army invaded South Ossetia in 2008”, Kosachev said.

11.23.2010  The Voice of Russia

 President Sergey Bagapsh received russian Audit Chamber representatives

The President of the Republic of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh received a delegation of the Audit Chamber of the Russian Federation led by an Audit Chamber auditor Sergey Ryabukhin. The issues connected with the expenditure of financial funds allocated by the Russian Federation through the Comprehensive plan of socio-economic development of Abkhazia were discussed at the meeting.

The meeting was also attended by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Abkhazia Sergey Shamba, the Vice-PM, the Minister of Finance Beslan Kubrava, the Minister of Economy Christina Ozgan, and the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Abkhazia Semyon Grigoriev.

11.23.2010  Official site of the president of the republic of Abkhazia

 Sergey Bagapsh had meeting with Abkhaz MPs

The meeting took place in the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Abkhazia. It was attended by vice-president Alexander Ankvab, Prime Minister Sergey Shamba, Speaker of the People’s Assembly-the Parliament of the Republic Nugzar Ashuba, vice-PMs Beslan Kubrava and Daur Tarba, ministers, the Presidential Administration officials Grigory Enik, Zurab Kadzhaya, Alexander Adleiba, the Security Council Secretary Otar Hetsia.

The meeting initiated by President Sergey Bagapsh was held behind closed doors.

The issues of foreign and domestic policy of the state, provision of the necessary facilities for the state border on the river Ingur, financing of the Comprehensive plan of socio-economic development of Abkhazia projects, the state budget formation were discussed at the meeting.

At the meeting special attention was given to the state property issues. The President expressed his opinion regarding different opinions expressed in the mass-media in connection with the intention to transfer officially some special-purpose properties under a treaty with the Russian side.

Answering deputies’ questions, Sergey Bagapsh explained that two of the three properties, whose use by the Russian side should be officially approved, taking into account the international legal aspect, have been already managed for a long time by appropriate structures of the Russian Federation. Negotiations on the third one are in the progress now. After them the head of state will send his decision to legislators in accordance with the established procedure.

The meeting participants supported the necessity of regular meetings to discuss state matters in conference.

“I am as usual open to discuss any issues”, Sergey Bagapsh said, concluding the meeting. “And I strongly recommend that one should respect political culture and responsibility when conducting debates, whatever subject they touch upon”.

11.23.2010  Official site of the president of the republic of Abkhazia

 Russian border guards have discovered a cache Kodor valley

Russian border guards have discovered a cache in the upper part of the Kodor valley.

According to the spokesperson for the Border Guard Department of FSB of Russia in the Republic of Abkhazia, the cache was discovered on November 16 at 06:00pm Moscow time around the settlement of Gentsvish. In the cache there were VOG-25 shots, two RPG-7 anti-tank rocket-propelled grenades, 400 7, 62 cartridges. Investigatory actions to establish the persons involved in the equipping the cache are underway.

“Performing their functions and protecting the state border of Abkhazia, Russian border guards ensure peace and security for the border area residents where the situation still remains complicated”, the press-service chief Vasily Malaev said.

As he said, vigilance of Russian border guards in Abkhazia when performing their duties was once again “a guarantor of peace and tranquility for the border area local population”.

11.23.2010  Official site of the president of the republic of Abkhazia

Moscow, Russia is to provide Abkhazia with a pavilion in the Soviet-era All-Russian Exhibition Center for the token price of one ruble ($0.3) per year.

Abkhazia will receive the exhibit facility, with the total area of 933.6 square meters, and the parcel of land around it for 50 years, but will have to carry out a total overhaul of the building itself.

The All-Russian Exhibition Center (VVTs) dates back to the 1939 when All-Union Agricultural Exhibition was opened in northeastern Moscow under Joseph Stalin's decree.

The exhibition included a public park with pavilions designed to display Soviet achievements in various spheres and fountains to symbolize the success of the socialist system. Each pavilion was dedicated to a particular industry, field or Soviet republic.

Moscow recognized the independence the republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia two years ago after a five-day conflict with Georgia and has since been the guarantor of their security, deploying thousands of troops and border guards to the tiny countries.

11.22.2010  RIA Novosti

 Sergey Bagapsh receives citicens in Ochamchira

On November 19 within the framework of the Public Reception Office President Sergey Bagapsh was receiving citizens in the Ochamchyra district Administration. Before the reception began, the President took part in the activists’ meeting.

Reports on the work done have not been heard at the district activists’ meeting as is customary in such cases. President wanted to learn about the district problems straight from the people and to solve them to the extent possible. But the most important thing, the head of state said, is the problem of security. “Today is a very serious moment for our state. We are on the break of political stability”, Sergey Bagapsh said.

Sergey Bagapsh mentioned that some publications in the press and officials’ statements call Russia’s role in the formation and development of Abkhazia as an independent state into question. “Russia has been and remains an ally of Abkhazia”, the President said.

Then the President began receiving citizens in the district head’s office. The problems of medical treatment and housing reconstruction are in the forefront among the problems citizens address to the President with. The President promised to help all those who need medical aid, including beyond the bounds of Abkhazia.

As to housing it is not that simple. About 500 housing improvement applications from citizens are in the Presidential Administration. But it is impossible to help everybody so far. The President promised those who have come to the reception office that roofs would be repaired first of all to preserve their houses.

There are large families and war veterans among those who need housing improvement. The President instructed district administration to provide housing for those people first of all.

Heads of #2 secondary school, the music school, and the city library that will turn 100 in 2012 have also come to the reception office. They spoke about the necessity of overhauling these establishments. The President promised to help with roofing replacement. As to the overhaul itself one has to wait a little with it.

Sergey Bagapsh promised to help equip the training business center where many specialists are trained and retrained.

Residents of the villages of Kutol and Kyndyg had underflooding problems. Rivers undermine soil and come close to the houses. The President instructed district officials to help solve this problem. He also promised to restore the road between the villages of Gup and Arasadzykh, about two kilometers long.

A third year student who has no parents has also come to the President’s reception office. Sergey Bagapsh will pay her tuition balance not for one year as she asked, but for the remaining period.

The President also promised to help Ochamchyra commercial bank to solve its financial problems. The only district bank does not have the necessary authorized capital of RUB 75 mln. That’s why its license has been revoked.

There are also projects the President proposed to the visitors. For example, to create a cattle-breeding farm in the village of Labra. He asked the administration head to learn villagers’ attitude to it.

Those who were assaulted by malefactors and those whose family members were killed, have also come. Sergey Bagapsh promised them to keep all cases in check.

Those who do not receive either Russian or Abkhaz pension have also come to the reception office. The head of state promised to look into the issue.

Reception has lasted for about 4 hours, the President has received more than 40 citizens.

11.19.2010  Official site of the president of the republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, NATO is unable to resolve the dispute between Georgia and Abkhazia and its actions aggravate tensions in the region, the Abkhazian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

The statement came in response to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly's recent resolution on Georgia, which called Abkhazia and South Ossetia "occupied territories".

NATO is seeking to distort the facts of the August 2008 war between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia and shift the viewpoint on these events, the ministry said.

"The Abkhazian party considers this biased interpretation of the events yet another manifestation of NATO's pro-Georgian position," the statement read.

"NATO is an organization that has been contributing to the intensive militarization of Georgia for many years, stirring up the revanchist mindset of the Georgian leadership, which led to the August 2008 bloodshed in South Ossetia."

Moscow recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia after the five-day war and has since been the guarantor of their security, deploying thousands of troops and border guards to the tiny republics.

11.18.2010  RIA Novosti

Prague, continuing the "Caucasian Chalk Circle" - a series of interviews with experts on the Caucasus, political scientists from the U.S., Europe and Asia, presents to you a conversation with George Hewitt.

George Hewitt is British and Professor of Caucasian Languages at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, and a Fellow of the British Academy. Since the mid 1970's, he has been studying the history, languages and cultures of the peoples of the Caucasus. He speaks Georgian and published a self-tutor for Abkhaz earlier this year. His Learner's Grammar of the Georgian language has been published in two editions in Britain (1996 and 2005). >>>

Warsaw, Arms exports to Georgia should be watched more closely since the Saakashvili regime has not yet abandoned plans to win back Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the Chairman of the Russian Duma`s Committee on Defense, Viktor Zavarzin, said during the annual session of NATO`s Parliamentary Assembly in Warsaw on Tuesday.

Mr. Zavarzin stressed that the Russian military presence in the republics remains one of the keys to stability in the region.

11.16.2010  The Voice of Russia

 Vice-president Alexander Ankuab acquainted himself with repair work on aqueduct by which water comes to New Athos

Sukhum, Vice-president Alexander Ankuab acquainted himself with repair work on the aqueduct by which water comes to New Athos. Before that he has visited the main pool located above the New Athos monastery whose repair is already completed. By the aqueduct water comes to the pump station, then to the pool, and from there straight to the city.
 

According to the general director of the Southern construction company Vadim Matua, the brick building of the pool constructed by monks was in an emergency condition. Builders have made interior concrete work, have strengthened the structure of the old building and have erected a hip roof over it. At that the former appearance of the construction has been completely preserved.
 

Simultaneously the builders have dismantled about 200 meters of rotten water pipes laid along the wall of the monastery's northern building, and have installed new ones outside the  monastic breast-wall. The northern breast- wall itself has been put in order too.
 

“Earlier there were many snakes here, and the thickets did not give the chance to come to the water conduit. And there was so much garbage here! Now everything is clean here, and specialists can easily watch over the waterpipe condition”, Matua said.
 

Then Alexander Ankuab visited the river Psyrtsha valley and examined the aqueduct.
 

Monks had started building this unique system approximately in 1888. The aqueduct length to the New Athos falls is 800 m.; potable water is not piped, but goes by a stone gutter.
 

Earlier the vice-president has already visited the aqueduct that was in a sad state. There had been landslips at many sections, the big trees had fallen on the stone gutter. The aqueduct had been seriously damaged in several places, and the water flowing out of it had continued to destroy the water conduit. Besides, there had been a serious threat of a part of the construction collapse.
 

Then Alexander Ankuab had come to the conclusion that “If the aqueduct falls, there will be no water in New Athos”. He had added that “certainly it all could be replaced with a pipe, but we are obliged to preserve this water supply system as a historical landmark”.
 

And six months later the aqueduct has acquired a new appearance. In some places builders have built breast-walls, at other sections they have installed ferro-concrete pylons. The trees threatening the water conduit have been cleared away. And if earlier water squelched underfoot, and it was impossible to pass without rubber boots on, now one can easily walk there and even make excursions.  
 

“The complexity of the repair was that we had to do all laborious work manually here. We had to repeat the monks' “feat” of 130-years' prescription. The old system is completely preserved, only taken in concrete”, Matua said.
 

The second stage is putting the water intake in order and elimination of the remained leakings in the aqueduct, the vice-president considers.
 

Unfortunately, after the repair of the aqueduct and the pool the problem of the city water supply is not solved completely, since the water supply system in New Athos is one hundred per cent depreciated. Athos residents hope  that the city water supply system repair project will be put in the Comprehensive plan of assistance to socio-economic development of the Republic of Abkhazia for 2010-2012.

11.15.2010  Official site of the president of the republic of Abkhazia

 Total cost of Sukhum trolleybus enterprise restoration project makes about RUB 60 mln

New Athos, Vice-president Alexander Ankuab visited the Sukhum trolleybus enterprise, and acquainted with the renovation of roofing in the main building, stockrooms and the dispatching office.

According to the director of “Mayak” LLC construction firm Grigory Bebia, earlier the buildings had “soft roofing” that has not been repaired for more than 30 years. Now "Abhazstroi" state-owned enterprise is erecting the “hip roof”; it is more than 4 thousand sq. m. The roofing replacement costs make RUB 5 mln. The total cost of the Sukhum trolleybus enterprise restoration project is about RUB 60 mln.

The same day Ankuab visited the Sukhum motor transport enterprise where the roofing replacement has also begun. At the first stage the builders will have to repair the roof over two bus repair premises, over the bus wash, the canteen and the administrative building with the total area of 5 thousand sq. m. This will take RUB 12-15 mln.

The Vice-president advanced a number of remarks regarding the builders' work and suggested that G.Bebia should have a more considered approach to selection of personnel.

11.15.2010  Official site of the president of the republic of Abkhazia

 Alexander Stranichkin: “We need to take the population census with the 100 % result

Sukhum, “We need to take the population census with the 100 % result, i.e. to reach every single person”, the vice-PM Alexander Stranichkin said today November 11 at a meeting of the State Commission on Population Census in the Republic of Abkhazia in 2011.

The State Commission Chairman Alexander Stranichkin stressed the importance of each citizen’s participation in the population census. He drew attention to the fact that the population census that had been taken in Russia gave rise to many complaints. “Many well-known people complained that nobody has come to them”, he said.

The State Statistics Department head Zoya told about the addresses inspection in the capital and the republic’s districts. “The initial stage has been finished successfully as we registered all house and grounds in the end of the last year already. Registering clerks registered all houses where population live or might live, non-residential buildings occupied by enterprises, establishments, social and cultural, consumer services, and trade properties”, Avidzba said.

As she said, all houses (both registered and non-registered) as well as the houses where residents living beyond the bounds of this settlement are registered, had been inscribed in the lists.

Moreover, according to her, in January-June of the current year the State Statistics Department employees verified lists of house and grounds with the map material.

“The map material has been developed for 8 cities, 4 settlements and 105 villages”, the Statistics Department head said. “There were some difficulties, but to solve the emerging problems we went to all cities, districts and villages of Abkhazia. For today map material on all cities and districts of the republic has been defined more precisely”, Zoya Avidzba said. “Early census was taken in regions difficult of access. More than 500 persons were registered”.

For today 35 census departments, 161 instructor stations, 680 calculating and 40 stationary stations have been created. “Now we are completing census takers’ bags. The advertizing campaign will begin in January, 2011. We plan to put up street advertizing, spread information posters with the census emblem in office buildings and places where people gather”, Zoya Avidzba said.

Alexander Stranichkin called heads of city and district administrations to involve administration employees and teachers in the census. “We need to pick out the people who can ensure organized preparation and qualitative taking of the census”, the vice PM emphasized. This work, as he said, is paid. In all there should be 1300 census takers.

The State Commission on Population Census in 2011 discussed other issues too.

11.11.2010  Official site of the president of the republic of Abkhazia

 V-III Centuries B.C. artifacts discoevred in Abkhazia

Sukhum, Three persons fell victims of the fire broken out in the urology unit of the Sukhum Clinical Hospital on Tuesday, November 9.

According to the Sukhum Interior Ministry Directorate Laurens Kogonia, information on the fire was received by the Interior Ministry Directorate at 08:55pm Moscow time. Fire crews arrived a few minutes later and could contain the fire for it not to spread on other units. However aged spouses Simonenko from Tkuarchal, and a unit nurse, 46-year old Natalia Chernov died as a result of fire.

Most likely spouses died of carbon monoxide, and the nurse was scorched, the city prosecutor Alisa Bigvava believes. As she said, bodies were sent to the Examination Bureau. Circumstances of the fire are being found out. Operational investigative group is working on the scene of the accident.

The hospital wing where the urology unit is located burned out within 7 minutes, the EMERCOD head Lev Kvitsinia said.

In the unit only the surgical wing was spared by the fire. Hospital employees managed to take out medical equipment from there after the fire has been extinguished.

According to the unit doctors, the aged spouse Simonenko was to have an operation. His wife nursed him. In all there were 7 patients in the unit. The others did not suffer.

President Sergey Bagapsh, Speaker of the Parliament Nugzar Ashuba, Prime Minister Sergey Shamba, and heads of law-enforcement bodies arrived at the scene.

Law enforcers refrain from any comments for the time being. A criminal case has been initiated. The city public prosecutor’s office is conducting the probe.

As it became known, the urology unit roofing had been repaired literally a day before the fire.

11.09.2010  Official site of the president of the republic of Abkhazia

Kislovodsk, Veterans of “Sukhum” basketball team took the fourth place at the international tournament held in Kislovodsk. At the same time a Sukhum team player Vladimir Minchakov was recognized the best center of the tournament and David Bigvava's shot was recognized the most useful and beautiful three-point shot, Ruslan Tarba, the Vice-president of “Sukhum” basketball club told Apsnypress.

“If last year our performance was not quite successful, this year having beaten the Rostov and Nevinnomyssk teams, we lost only to the tournament organizers by a nose. Being on the second place in the subgroup, on the last day of the tournament the Sukhum team lost to a stronger team from the city of Cherkessk, and took the fourth place among 12 teams”, Tarba said.

Vladimir Minchakov, Timur Chegia, David Bigvava, Vladimir Alania, Daur Tarba, Sergey Sushchenko, Kemal Mol-Ogly played for the Abkhaz team. The team was trained by the honored trainer of the republic Stanislav Sushchenko. “Sberbank of Abkhazia” and “Wines and Beverages of Abkhazia” rendered financial support to the Sukhum team.

11.09.2010  Official site of the president of the republic of Abkhazia

 MPs to consider proposals on State Off-Budget Funds reform

Sukhum, A working group on the reform of the system of State Off-budget Funds will have a meeting in the Parliament on November 10.

The working group is headed by the vice-speaker Irina Agrba. “Deputies propose a new form of the Funds’ existence, not to the detriment of those social projects these funds finance”, Irina Agrba told “Apsnypress”.

11.09.2010  Official site of the president of the republic of Abkhazia

Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Abkhazia will be considered at the upcoming session of the People’s Assembly – the Parliament

Sukhum, Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Abkhazia will be considered at the upcoming session of the People’s Assembly – the Parliament.

Amendments will apply to chapter 7 regulating the procedure of introducing amendments and additions to the Supreme Law of the country. President’s proposals on amendments to the Constitution were submitted to the Parliament about a year ago. A conciliatory commission was created. It divided amendments into subject parts. Amendments to chapter 7 were adopted in the first reading and published.

“Adoption of amendments will mark the beginning of the Constitutional reform that has been already prepared for several years. These changes will also result in the changes relating to the powers of the Parliament, the President, the Supreme and Constitutional Courts”, the Speaker of the Parliament Nugzar Ashuba said.

“The seventh chapter is a key to the entire Constitution of Abkhazia. Much work has been done for a year, and now one can say that we are in the homestretch as far as amendments to the country’s Supreme Law are concerned”, Nugzar Ashuba concluded.

11.09.2010  Official site of the president of the republic of Abkhazia

Gordon confirms US support to Georgia.

"Russia`s relationship with many countries around the world -- indeed, its reputation around the world -- will never be what it could be, what Russians want it to be, so long as in the view in much of the world, it`s occupying a sovereign country", Assistant US Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Gordon said in his interview with Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty.

"And when Russia recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia, they may have expected a number of countries would go along, but they haven`t. And it will constantly be an issue for many countries around the world, for many countries in the European Union and certainly for the United States", he added.

"We`re trying to get international organizations -- the OSCE, NGOs -- back into Georgia. We have successfully encouraged other countries not to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia. We`re keeping it on the international agenda", Gordon said.

08.11.2010  News.Az

Public reception office: What do citizens complain about

Sukhum, On Thursday the Vice-president of the Republic of Abkhazia Alexander Ankuab held the first meeting with citizens.

A wide range of questions was raised: people asked to help them repair roofs and entrances, create special schools for problem teenagers; decide the issue of receiving the Abkhaz pension, to help with the residence permit and restoration of Abkhaz citizenship, welfare to the child who was blown up by a mine at the age of five, solve the problem of power supply and houses flooded by the river Basla, put in order the tomb of a fallen in the Georgian-Abkhaz war, etc.

But the majority of citizens who have come to the reception office (Vice-president received 19 persons) complained about housing problems. People, mothers of the fallen, a Patriotic War invalid, complained about the indifference of officials, about the fact that they are not allowed to the head of administration, said that their applications are not registered and if registered, decisions are not taken for years. Frequently when applying to the house managements or administrations regarding housing allotment they are told: “find an empty apartment and we will allot it to you”, but when such an apartment is found, while an applicant is collecting necessary documents, it turns out it has been already allotted to another person.

Alexander Ankuab examined each such complaint seriously: demanded respective applications from Administration officials, explained patiently the situation with housing allotment to the citizens. He promised that all complaints will be taken under control and resolved.

As to the roofing repair, according to the Vice-president, more than 200 roofs need to be repaired only in Sukhum and Agudzera (RUB 371, 8 million was allocated for the roofing repair all over the republic in 2009), but anyway citizens’ requests will be taken into consideration.

After the reception Alexander Ankuab had a serious conversation with the capital’s Administration deputy heads Vadim Cherkezia, Anzor Kortua, the Housing Department chief Daur Kogonia and the Administration’s Office chief Timur Tkebuchava.

“Unfortunately, the situation with the reception of citizens at many levels really needs to be improved, that’s why we have a lot of complaints about officials’ activity. People have a lot of problems without it, many think of how to survive in our difficult time, and coming to the administration, they run into rudeness instead of support. And then they say absolutely soundly that the authorities are guilty of everything”, Alexander Ankuab ascertained.

According to the Vice-president, activities of some administration and house management officials are of the abuse character. Besides, it is often easier to be received by the President and the Vice-president, than by many heads and their deputies.

Alexander Ankuab was interested in the lists of persons on the waiting list for obtaining apartments from among the families of the fallen, invalids, war participants and homeless victims of fires and the principles of housing allotment.

The Vice-president informed administration officials about his intention to analyze seriously their activity.

11.05.2010  Official site of the president of the republic of Abkhazia

 Abkhaz MIA head considers it outdated to discuss law enforcement bodies' activity for nine months at ministry board

Sukhum, The Interior Minister of Abkhazia Leonid Dzyapshba considers it outdated to discuss law enforcement bodies’ activity for nine months at the ministry board, held traditionally throughout fifteen years.

“There is no sense in holding a big board; it is a formality we should abandon. Certainly, the Ministry of Internal Affairs had and will have the system of reporting, but I think we will discuss our activity in details at the MIA board in the end of the year”, Dzyapshba said in an interview with Apsnypress.

The head of the Interior Ministry said he has already visited all district departments of internal affairs where he has discussed crime situation with department chiefs, has set specific targets to improve the situation.

Dzyapshba added serious changes in personnel take place in MIA central office and directorates. The Minister specified that chiefs of the Gulripsh district department and the Tsandripsh department of the Gagra district have been already replaced. “Based on the work done, by the end of the year we will make conclusions in respect of other district bodies”, the MIA head said.

Answering an Apsnypress journalist’s question whether there was discontent on the part of the discharged from the Interior Ministry, the Minister said: “Yes, it is an unpleasant procedure, but, much work has been done behind that decision, there is official evidence, and every discharged employee knows the reason of his discharge”. Thus he did not specify the number of police officers discharged.

“There are a lot of negative points: both failure to perform duties, and treachery in respect of the colleagues. In most cases people fail to perform their duties. There are also those who confuse their work in police with business what cannot be tolerated in any way”, Leonid Dzyapshba emphasized.

Over 20 persons out of 326 officers of the MIA field services were discharged based on the personnel drug tests results.

Leonid Dzyapshba was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia in September, 2010.

11.04.2010  Official site of the president of the republic of Abkhazia

The disappearance without a trace of the Abkhazian citizen Garri Jopua in the mid of October made the Abkhazian authorities to drawattention of international organizations to the policy of the Georgian side in the region. All negotiations between Sukhum and Tbilisi in fact are ceased due to the August events in Caucasus. However, international mediators are trying to reanimate in every possible way the locked process of peaceful settlement. The Abkhazian politicians fairly noticed that without taking into consideration the up-dated reality it will be impossible to achieve complete and full-scale settlement of the existing disagreements. But the major problem is that by words Georgia does not reject the political dialogue but in fact, is continuing to use coercive pressure on the Abkhazian side.

One of the examples of using such political methods are terrorist attacks that are constantly carried out by the Georgian special services. It is in this context that the cases of abduction of the Abkhazian citizens should be viewed. As an example we can take the incident of 2007 can when David Sigua, ethnic Georgian, who was an active supporter of the idea of independent Abkhazia was kidnapped from his own home by the “unknown” persons. There is no doubt that it is the life position of Sigua that caused his disappearance. We deliberately put the word “unknown” in quotes since the Abkhazian law-enforcement agencies do know for sure that the abduction of Sigua was organized by the Georgian special services. It should be noted, that they are regularly sent from the neighbor territories to carry out such and other subversive terrorist attacks.

Abkhazian side has been trying to free its citizen by using all known ways of either official diplomacy or the peoples’ one for three years already. Sukhum has many times officially addressed the top international authorities requesting to get involved in locating David Sigua’s position. But his destiny is still unknown. In response to urgent requests to return Sigua the Georgian side gives a hackneyed answer that they have no information about Sigua, and the international representatives in Georgia in a confidential manner confirm the words of the Georgian authorities.. As a result, there is a deadlock which will be difficult to overcome since the Western protectors are not interested in further staining the flyblown reputation of Saakashvili.

A few days ago, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spread a sensational message, notably regarding the letter of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Maksim Gundjia to the Executive Secretary of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture Trevor Stevens The reason for the Abkhazian politician’s appeal is another crime against humanity. This time the victim of the Georgian special services became Garry Djopua. He was kidnapped on the 9th of October in the border region of Gal. Mr. Gunjia requests Mr. Stevens to facilitate the objective investigation on finding the whereabouts of the Abkhazian citizen. It is not a coincidence that that Mr. Gunjia addressed this particular person. An objective investigation can be conducted upon the will of the European statesman. In Georgia there are offices many international organizations. On the border itself there are the EU monitors. But they will unlikely participate in investigating the cases of complete disappearance of the Abkhazian citizens three years or a month ago. This is not only the case of their unconditional support of Georgian authorities.

In the above mentioned letter the Abkhazian Minister assumes that the Abkhazian residents are probably detained in the Georgian secret prisons. In the light of the scant information on the results of the last round of Geneva discussions the news regarding the secret prisons came like a thunderbolt from a clear sky. It did not come as a bombshell, however. While the message was ignored by most of mass media, a number of facts mentioned make us believe there can be a high possibility of the existence of secret prisons in Georgia. Although there is no absolute proof, all of the above mentioned shows that the hypothesis of the MFA of Abkhazia can be true.

It is well known that Georgia is the only country at the Post-Soviet space which blindly follows the political directions of the Western patrons and especially the US. This transatlantic country was once involved in the political scandal several years ago when the information regarding the secret prisons in Eastern Europe leaked into the press. That time Washington tried but it did not manage to put a good face on the situation. The whole media buzz around the European prisons where captives from Iraq and Afghanistan were brought to and then tortured played a nasty trick on the then President George Bush. According to many political scholars this information regarding the inhuman treatment of the detainees shocked the American electorate. As a result, they voted for Barak Obama, not for McCain, who was supported by Bush.

The information regarding the secret prisons in Georgia can cause indignation among ordinary Georgians and probably will as they know exactly how the current regime is struggling with the political opposition. Using its punitive institutions Tbilisi authorities deal shortly with everybody who thinks differently. Many experts admit that Georgia has the biggest number of political detainees in the world. The existence of the secret casemates is beneficial for the Georgian authorities not only because of their solidarity with the Americans who got stuck in Afghanistan. It is also an effective way for them to get rid of the ardent critics.

The reason for secret prison is obvious: it is a place to hide forever the people that are disliked by the current regime. David Sigua did not suit Tbilisi authorities. He actively supported the official Sukhum Government, he was popular among the residents of Gal region, and people listened to him. In this case, isn’t it better to get him into such prison which is not mentioned in the Ministry of Justice list and is difficult to find in the out-of-the-way mountainous locations. According to the unverified sources, the secret casemates can be in the suburb areas of Tbilisi and Rustavi. And they are not solely Georgian prisons. There is a possibility that the secret prisons of CIA are located in this territory. Taking into consideration the participation of Georgia in the international anti terrorist operations in Afghanistan it can be assumed that talibs after the capture are transferred to Georgia for further detention.

Therefore , Georgia was accused of creating a system of secret prisons. Right now Abkhazia does not have enough evidence, but it has assumptions. Two Abkhazian citizens have already disappeared in the Georgian prisons. Who is the next victim of the Georgian special services? It will be truly sad, if the abductions continue.

“On the 26th of October, the day of the publication another Abkhazian citizen Parpaliya Nugzar (born in 1945) who works as a foreman at the Rep village was kidnapped. This incident happened on the Georgian side of the border at the village of Hercha. Parpaliya N. was captured by Georgian special services when he was returning to Abkhazia from the territory of Georgia. The 65-year old man was accused of the drug trafficking but it is known that the evidence was fake.” (Lev Sonnikov)

11.03.2010  IA REGNUM

 Meeting with Interior Minister held in Public Chamber

Sukhum, A meeting with the Interior Minister Leonid Dzyapshba was held in the Public Chamber.

The Minister told members of the Chamber about the state of combatting crime and his further plans, answered numerous meeting participants' questions.

The Public Chamber Secretary Natella Akaba expressed hope that the Public Chamber will become a connecting-link between the ministry and the society.

A Public Chamber member Socrat Jinjolia offered to help the minister in public expert examination of the laws the police follows in its activity.

11.03.2010  Official site of the president of the republic of Abkhazia

 President Sergey Bagapsh visited Abkhaz embassy to Russia

Moscow, President Sergey Bagapsh, being on a working visit in Moscow, visited the Embassy of the Republic of Abkhazia to the Russian Federation.

During his meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Igor Akhba and the embassy employees Sergey Bagapsh discussed the prospects of development of the embassy in the light of expansion of mutual relations between Abkhazia and the Russian Federation.

Pointing to the importance and responsibility of the Embassy's work, President emphasized that the establishment of diplomatic relations and opening of the first embassy of Abkhazia to Moscow became possible thanks to the recognition by Russia of the republic's independence.

Sergey Bagapsh told about the aid rendered by Russia to Abkhazia in different spheres.

The head of state also pointed to the importance of closer cooperation between the Moscow Abkhaz diaspora and the Embassy of the Republic of Abkhazia in the field of popularization of Abkhaz culture and art.

After the meeting an official dinner was given in the Embassy in honor of the President, a spokesperson for the Embassy told Apsnypress.

11.03.2010  Official site of the president of the republic of Abkhazia

 Sergey Bagapsh congratulated Dilma Rousseff on winning presidential elections in Brazil

Sukhum, The President of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh congratulated Dilma Rousseff on winning presidential elections in Brazil.

The congratulatory telegram sent today by Sergey Bagapsh, reads, in part:

“The results of expression of popular will show high degree of confidence you have deserved, being engaged in political activity. Being the closest fellow-champion of the incumbent President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, you have contributed considerably to the dynamic all-round development of the Federal Republic of Brazil”.

The President of Abkhazia wished Dilma Rousseff success in her work, and wished the Brazilian nation peace and prosperity, the Governmental Information Department told Apsnypress.

11.02.2010  Official site of the president of the republic of Abkhazia

Anatoly Ptitsa, Today after more than two years since the army of Mikhail Saakashvilli's Regime attacked the civil population of South Ossetia and the Russian peacemakers, the Republic of Georgia has not abandoned its aggressive course of confrontation and is bearing plans for revenge. Now the military power of Tbilisi (the capital of the Republic of Georgia) is actually higher than in August, 2008 not without the help of some foreign countries. The Republic of Georgia is substantially strengthening its armed forces giving priority to the airpower.

The Republic of Georgia has concentrated considerable troop masses along its borders with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It insistently refuses to take obligations for non-application of force against Tskhinval and Sukhum (the capitals of South Ossetia and Abkhazia).

The Republic of Georgia withdrew itself from all peacemaking agreements and therefore put safety and security in the region under threat. This issue is focused on by the Geneve Discussions on Transcaucasus which are according to agreements of Dmitry Medvedev and Nicholas Sarkozy aimed at providing stable security to Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The demand to "reoccupy" the new independent Transcaucasus Republics made by the Georgian Side is absurd. The Russian military contingents are placed there legally on the basis of bilateral intergovernmental agreements. Tbilisi's proposal to conclude a non-aggression pact with Russia is also baseless since Russia has never attacked the Republic of Georgia. Lately Tbilisi tries to continue its traditional dictatorial policy over small folks inhabiting the country. Life for Armenians and Azerbaijanians in the country is becoming harder by the day.

The Republic of Georgia has proclaimed the so-called "Strategy of peaceful reintegration of the occupied territories" without asking Abkhazians and South Ossetians if they wish to be "reintegrated".

The speech of Mikhail Saakashvilli during the 65th Session of UN General Assembly is remarkable in this regard. His every word shows disregard for the choice of the Abkhazian and South Ossetian Peoples as well as firm confidence in the right of the Georgian Government to define their destiny. This impression cannot be effaced by Saakashvilli's promises of "happy future as part of the Republic of Georgia".

Instead of making practical steps towards normalization of relations with Abkhazians and South Ossetians Tbilisi commenced massive activity on the international platforms aiming at discrediting the young Caucasian republics as well as the Russian Federation, which secures their safety.

As an example, putting to the vote the Georgian Draft-resolution on Refugees has undermined a fragile discussion process on the problems of refugees and displaced persosns in framework of Humanitarian Group of the Geneva Discussions.

Tbilisi is making considerable efforts to hinder the expansion of foreign relations of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and isolate them on the international scene. The Georgian Act on Occupied Territories implores lawless sanctions on foreign citizens who visit Abkhazia and South Ossetia without permission of Tbilisi. As for the citizens of Russia they become victims of Georgian oppression regardless of their ever being to Abkhazia or South Ossetia. Tbilisi also makes obstacles for the International Organizations representatives who are due to visit the Republic of Georgia.

Tbilisi says it is willing dialogue with Russia on any issue, but at the same time it's taking purposeful steps aimed at further deterioration in the relations.

In spite of Tbilisi's anti-Russian politics the Russian Federation keeps to constructive standpoints both in the International Organizations and in Geneva Discussions.

Russia stands on formulation of non-application of force between the Republic of Georgia and Abkhazia and South Ossetia, proposed unilateral declarations on non-application of force and has shown its readiness to be a warrant of such obligations.

On October 18, 2010 Russia withdrew its troops from the village of Perevi that stands in the disputable near-border area between Georgia and South Ossetia. So The Russian Federation showed its good will and proved its commitment to peace and stability in the region.

This act crowned fulfillment of agreements between Medvedev and Sarkozy by the Russian Side. Meanwhile Russia is upping efforts to provide operational mechanisms to prevent and react to incidents around borders of the said states. Russia continues to support the Peoples of the young republics in the form of humanitarian actions and other measures.

The Russian Federation believes that responsible international players should refrain from direct or indirect encouragement of the Georgian Government that does not wish to reject the previous confrontational approach towards its neighbors.

The Regime of Mikhail Saakashvilli not only serves as a factor of tension and insecurity in Transcaucasus but also insistently tries to turn the whole process of international cooperation into a hostage of its vicious politics. This must not be admitted. (Anatoly Ptitsa: Russian Acting Ambassador to Botswana)

11.02.2010  Mmegi online

 Abkhaz state migration service to start full-scale work in 2012

Sukhum, A meeting with the Vice-president Alexander Ankuab and the State Migration Service Chief Vladimir Arshba and his deputy Evgenie Sangulia was held on November 1.
 

Having reminded that on October 21 the Service turned one year, Alexander Ankuab took an interest in what has been done by its chiefs for this period.  
 

According to Vladimir Arshba, they have done a little, including the necessary legislative basis has been prepared. After the bill is considered by the legal department of the Presidential Administration, it will be submitted to the Parliament for approval.
 

The State Migration Service Chief said they managed to enter into close cooperation with the Federal Service of the Russian Federation: an arrangement to train and improve our employees' professional skills in Russia has been reached. A week ago representatives of the FMS of the Russian Federation central office came to Abkhazia to conduct methodological classes for the Service officials. A meeting in the Sochi FMS Directorate where concrete interaction arrangements will be discussed, will be held one of these days.
 

As Arshba said, according to the plan, the Service employees, in a shorter composition so far, will start performing their functions in February, 2011. The Service will start full-scale work in 2012. For the time being, according to State Migration Service Chief, they occupy a temporary premise because the building allocated to them is to be seriously repaired.
 

“The major task of the Service is to register all citizens arriving in Abkhazia, irrespective of their nationality, not only workers. After all if we do not keep records of migrants being here, we will face big problems in time”, the State Migration Service chief believes.
 

“To avoid it here, when drawing up the legislative basis we have made a close study of many countries' experience, including Russia, Canada and Moldova. A child is registered there when he/she is born and  it is always possible to trace where he/she is. But it is in prospect for us for the time being. Besides, we are also going to fix our citizens who have left the territory of the republic and settled down in the Russian Federation for today”, Arshba emphasized.  
 

As to the migration process control this year, the Service has only approximate data so far.
 

Relying on the figures given by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, as well as on the information received from own inspectors, who have made spot checks of construction sites, it has been established that from the beginning of the year and as of October 1 eight thousand workers have entered the republic and it is a lot.
 

“Despite your humble appraisal, you have done quite a lot, especially since you have started from nothing. And though you don't have experience, you are not lacking in the desire to work”,  Ankuab ascertained.
 

In his opinion, the first year of the Service activity had its effect as employees were seriously examining the processes of migration. It is good that cooperation with neighbours is being established: personnel training is the main constituent part of the work. According to the Vice-president, provision of information about the citizens crossing the Russian-Abkhaz border is also worth agreeing with Russian colleagues. As to the legislative basis it must fit our reality.
 

“The Migration Service is confronted with serious problems, and it is not registration of migrants and gastarbeiters only. You must have a complete database on the entire republic's population, on those who arrive, and those who leave the country. Thus, not to make mistakes in your work, take the experience of Russians into consideration”, the Vice-president said.
 

He reminded that we have almost six-year experience of involving workers from the outside, for municipal services and construction so far. A lot of visitors work in our villages too, and nobody will give a guarantee that some of them do not have a criminal past, or that they do not flee from justice.
 

“The Migration Service is some kind of a filter, and your organization should work in this direction better than the MIA system as in time the passport and visa service functions will be transferred to you. We should know, what countries people arrive here from, where they work, where they live and give information about it regularly  – it is very important for different kinds of phobias like: “disagreeable types come in large numbers!” not to exist in the society”, the Vice-president stressed.
 

He believes there should be economic estimate about it: today the budget loses considerable sums on gastarbeiters, but the heads of construction firms are ready to work within the legal framework and to register their workers.
 

“It is impossible to stop migration, and our task is to keep the balance in respect of use of the involved labor force”, Alexander Ankuab believes.
 

The Vice-president promised Vladimir Arshba to decide the issue of the bulding repair and to render material and technical support to the Service, thus saying that in prospect State Migration Service departments will work in every city and district.

11.01.2010  Official site of the president of the republic of Abkhazia