Sukhum, The prime minister of Abkhazia says the return of Georgian refugees to Abkhazia is not possible in the current political circumstances, RFE/RL's Echo of the Caucasus reports.

Sergei Shamba told RFE/RL on September 2 that the key issue to be resolved to make it possible for Georgian refugees to return to Abkhazia was official recognition by Georgia of Abkhazia's independence.

He said that "without recognition of Abkhazia's independence," no further resolution of the return of ethnic Georgians to Abkhazia was possible.

"Those who wanted to return to Abkhazia have returned," Shamba said. "Those who want to return to Abkhazia but consider it a part of Georgia cannot return, and we cannot give them the same false promises given by the Georgian authorities."

Shamba added that as long as Georgia had territorial claims on Abkhazia, it was difficult to talk about establishing good-neighborly relations between Abkhazia and Georgia and solve the issue of the refugees' return to Abkhazia.

09.03.2010  RFE/RL

 Vyachslave Chirikba: “Information in the press that Abkhazia is ready to deploy a new UN Mission or UN observers is far from the current political reality”

Sukhum, Information in the press that Abkhazia is ready to deploy a new UN Mission or UN observers is far from the current political reality and reflects only theoretically acceptable possibilities or variants, the head of Abkhaz delegation at the Geneva discussions Vyacheslav Chirikba declared.

As is well known, the United Nations Mission finished its work in Abkhazia in 2009 in connection with the termination of its mandate. After that Abkhazia never carried on any concrete negotiations with anybody on a new UN Mission.

“Abkhazia maintains close contacts with the United Nations, in particular in the format of Geneva discussions. UN high ranking officials pay visits to Abkhazia. UN representatives participate in regular five-sided Gal meetings within the framework of the joint mechanism on incident prevention and response”, Chirikba said.

He expressed hope that “in the future Abkhazia will become a member of this global international organization and then the presence of a full-fledged UN representative office here will be quite natural”. But it is too early to speak about it so far, the head of Abkhaz delegation at the Geneva discussions believes.

09.02.2010  Official Site of the president of the republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, The Abkhaz authorities intend to propose a new draft agreement on the non-use of force at the next round of Geneva discussions, the President's envoy to the international discussions in Geneva Vyacheslav Chirikba declared Tuesday. He said that “in all there are four drafts - Russian, Abkhaz, South Ossetian and Georgian”. The Abkhaz variant of the agreement, as he said, “consists of two basic statutes - declaration on the non-use of force, and guarantees of maintaining a peacful situation in the region”.

Chirikba does not rule out that “as one of the elements of the agreement observance mechanism the issue of deploying observers on either side of the border between Abkhazia and Georgia could be considered”.

“Those will be not peacekeeping forces. Those might be observer posts- those of the United Nations on our side, the European Union ones - on the Georgian side that would watch the situation and report, if there was any escalation of tension. At least, they should have a ground and they could have the possibility to report on these violations”, Chirikba said.

“All the details are still in the process of discussion, and the Abkhaz party is ready to consider alternative variants”, he declared.

Sukhum is not against “a small UN Mission” in the territory of Abkhazia that would mediate between Sukhum and Tbilisi, as well as have contacts with the Russian side. These functions performance by European observers is considered impossible by Sukhum, as the European Union took a hard line regarding the recognition of Abkhazia's independence.

09.02.2010  Official Site of the president of the republic of Abkhazia

 Representatives of the Sukhum branch of the “Mothers of Abkhazia for peace and social justice” movement took part in mourning events in Beslan

Sukhum, Representatives of the Sukhum branch of the “Mothers of Abkhazia for peace and social justice” movement took part in mourning events in the city of Beslan (North Ossetia), dedicated to the sixth anniversary of the act of terror at #1 school.

On September 1, 2004 militants took 1128 people hostage. As a result of the act of terror 334 peole, including 186 children were killed.

09.02.2010  Official Site of the president of the republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, Young athletes from Abkhazia took part in the third sports youth festival of compatriots of the abroad, held from August 23 through August 29 in Moscow.

Young athletes from 52 countries participated in the festival organized by the Council of Russian compatriots with support of the government of Moscow.

13 athletes from Abkhazia participated in the free-style wrestling tournament, volleyball (girls), table tennis and chess. They took the first and second place in free-style wrestling, the third one in volleyball.

“The Cabinet of Abkhazia rendered financial support in equipping our team, and the Ministry of Education and the State Committee on Youth and Sports helped to form the team. Our wrestlers were trained by Astamur Benia, volleyball players by Oleg Lakrba”, the head of Association of economic assistance to Russian compatriots in Abkhazia M. Malaichuk said.

The Council of Russian compatriots from Abkhazia includes “Russian community of the Republic of Abkhazia”, Russian cultural center and Association of economic assistance to the Russian compatriots in Abkhazia.

09.01.2010  Official Site of the president of the republic of Abkhazia

 President Sergey Bagapsh congratulated teachers, schoolchildren and students on the “exciting, good and inspiring holiday - the beginning of a new academic year and the Knowledge Day!”.

Sukhum, President Sergey Bagapsh congratulated teachers, schoolchildren and students on the “exciting, good and inspiring holiday - the beginning of a new academic year and the Knowledge Day!”.

“September 1 is always filled with special feelings of expectation of important changes, inspiring events, long-awaited meetings with children of the same age and teachers, the beginning of a new stage on the path to the wonderful world of knowledge”, Sergey Bagapsh's congratulation reads in part. “More and more young people realize that their destiny depends on their conscientious attitude to education, cultivation in themselves of professional qualities, active position in life”.

According to the President, services of teachers who make efforts for the standard and quality of education in our republic to be up to modern requirements are recorded with gratitude and thankfulness.

“A lot is done in Abkhazia for the conditions created for studies in educational institutions, to help the rising generation to store profound knowledge, to take pride in the country, to respect ancestors' deeds, to love the native land, to be of benefit for it”, the head of state said.

The President wished everybody sound health, well-being, joy and success in studies, inspiration in work!

09.01.2010  Official Site of the president of the republic of Abkhazia