According to Russia's Foreign Ministry, Georgia is increasing its military presence in the Kodor(i) Gorge and preparing to start a military operation against the breakaway republic of Abkhazia. Georgia has issued an instant denial of the allegation.
Tuesday, 29 April 2008
Georgia preparing military operation against Abkhazia
Saturday, 26 April 2008
Circassian World supports independence of Abkhazia
''Circassian World follows closely developments affecting the fate of our Abkhazian brothers and lends its strongest support to the struggle for the independence of Abkhazia.''
ABKHAZIA IS ABKHAZIA
CircassianWorld.com
Аҧсадгьыл зцәыӡыз зeгьы ицәыӡит.
He who has lost his homeland has lost everything.
- Abkhazian proverb
On 22nd-23rd April 1993, while the Georgian-Abkhazian war (1992-93) was still raging, a conference on the Caucasus was held at London University’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). Stanislav Lakoba (historian, one-time Speaker of the Abkhazian Parliament, and currently Chairman of Abkhazia’s Security Council), gave a presentation entitled ‘Abkhazia is Abkhazia’. An English translation was subsequently published in Central Asian Survey (1995). Though the war has been over for 15 years, during which time Abkhazia has not only maintained but with ever increasing economic success strengthened its ‘de facto’ independent status, it remains both a thorn in the side of Georgian aspirations to move ever closer to the EU and NATO and a bone of contention with Russia. Since most of what Lakoba had to say in 1993 is just as relevant today, a few paragraphs from his presentation (edited by the original translator) are offered below.
Friday, 25 April 2008
UN fails to settle spy plane row - RussiaToday
The UN Security Council has failed to reach a decision about tensions between Moscow and Tbilisi over a Georgian spy plane, shot down over Abkhazia on Sunday. Russia has repeatedly denied Georgian claims that it played a role in the incident.
Thursday, 24 April 2008
Russia, Georgia trade accusations over spy plane, Abkhazia before UN meeting
The Associated Press April 23, 2008
MOSCOW: Russia and Georgia traded new accusations before a U.N. Security Council meeting, with Moscow saying Tbilisi violated U.N. resolutions by using unmanned planes to spy on the breakaway region of Abkhazia.
Georgia on Tuesday accused Russia of beginning a military buildup and of moving to annex the Black Sea region, which has had de-facto independence for more than a decade.
In a statement, Russia's Foreign Ministry denied Georgian accusations that a Russian fighter jet shot down a spy plane over the weekend, saying that the Israeli-made Hermes pilotless craft was shot down by Abkhazian air defenses.
That appears to contradict Abkhazia's defense officials, who said that one of their L-39 jets brought down the plane.
Georgia said video taken by the spy plane clearly shows a Russian MiG-29 jet — a jet Georgia's air force commander said that neither Abkhazia nor Georgia has. Georgia also said radar showed the jet took off from a former Russian air base in Abkhazia and flew into Russian air space after shooting down the spy plane.
Georgia on Tuesday accused Russia of beginning a military buildup and of moving to annex the Black Sea region, which has had de-facto independence for more than a decade.
In a statement, Russia's Foreign Ministry denied Georgian accusations that a Russian fighter jet shot down a spy plane over the weekend, saying that the Israeli-made Hermes pilotless craft was shot down by Abkhazian air defenses.
That appears to contradict Abkhazia's defense officials, who said that one of their L-39 jets brought down the plane.
Georgia said video taken by the spy plane clearly shows a Russian MiG-29 jet — a jet Georgia's air force commander said that neither Abkhazia nor Georgia has. Georgia also said radar showed the jet took off from a former Russian air base in Abkhazia and flew into Russian air space after shooting down the spy plane.
Still, Russia said the flight was a violation of international law.
"The flight taken by a reconnaissance aircraft, which could also be used to direct fire, is a violation of the Moscow agreement on the cease-fire of May 14, 1994, as well as relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions," the ministry said.
Georgia is pressing the United Nations to take up its claims of Russian military aggression in Abkhazia and the Security Council was scheduled to hold a closed-door meeting Wednesday to discuss Georgia's accusations.
Georgia's Deputy Prime Minister Giorgi Baramidze was in Britain on Tuesday, for meeting with lawmakers, officials and media, seeking international repudiation of the weekend incident.
Abkhazia and another region, South Ossetia, have had de-facto independence since breaking away from Georgian government control in the 1990s.
Russia has tacitly supported the regions' autonomy, granting their residents citizens, supporting the ruble as the currency of choice and other measures. President Vladimir Putin recently ordered his government to increase cooperation with both regions, and lifted trade restrictions for companies doing business there. Those moves have incensed the Georgian leadership.
Russia also is vociferously opposed to Georgia's efforts to join NATO, and has been wary of Tbilisi's moves to tighten ties with the United States.
Putin and his Georgian counterpart, Mikhail Saakashvili, discussed the spy plane incident on Monday, in what Saakashvili termed a "very difficult conversation." The Kremlin said Putin expressed bewilderment at the fact that Georgia was using spy planes over Abkhazia.
On Tuesday, ITAR-Tass quoted an unnamed Russian air force official as saying it would absurd to use a MiG fighter jet to shoot down a spy plane: "You could shoot it down with a slingshot. Abkhazia has enough of its own anti-aircraft tools to complete that mission."
But Georgia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that video evidence proved a MiG jet took off from the former Russian air base at Gudauta to shoot down the spy plane and that the MiG then flew on into Russian air space.
"The Russian Federation has ... begun an alarming military build up in the conflict region," it said. "The recent steps of the Russian Federation are clearly directed toward the annexation of a part of sovereign territory of Georgia."
Earlier this year, both Abkhazia and South Ossetia appealed to the world community to recognize them as independent. Both cited Kosovo as a precedent.
In Abkhazia, the region's leader, Sergei Bagapsh, again echoed that precedent in an address to the region's residents.
"A precedent, on the basis of which Abkhazia can even more persistently claim its rights, has been created," Bagapsh said.
"Having recognized Kosovo, the international community has opened a new page in history, where there should be a place for the independent state of Abkhazia," he said.
Associated Press writers Misha Dzhindzhikhashvili in Tbilisi, Georgia, and Ruslan Khasig in Sukhumi, Georgia, contributed to this report.
"The flight taken by a reconnaissance aircraft, which could also be used to direct fire, is a violation of the Moscow agreement on the cease-fire of May 14, 1994, as well as relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions," the ministry said.
Georgia is pressing the United Nations to take up its claims of Russian military aggression in Abkhazia and the Security Council was scheduled to hold a closed-door meeting Wednesday to discuss Georgia's accusations.
Georgia's Deputy Prime Minister Giorgi Baramidze was in Britain on Tuesday, for meeting with lawmakers, officials and media, seeking international repudiation of the weekend incident.
Abkhazia and another region, South Ossetia, have had de-facto independence since breaking away from Georgian government control in the 1990s.
Russia has tacitly supported the regions' autonomy, granting their residents citizens, supporting the ruble as the currency of choice and other measures. President Vladimir Putin recently ordered his government to increase cooperation with both regions, and lifted trade restrictions for companies doing business there. Those moves have incensed the Georgian leadership.
Russia also is vociferously opposed to Georgia's efforts to join NATO, and has been wary of Tbilisi's moves to tighten ties with the United States.
Putin and his Georgian counterpart, Mikhail Saakashvili, discussed the spy plane incident on Monday, in what Saakashvili termed a "very difficult conversation." The Kremlin said Putin expressed bewilderment at the fact that Georgia was using spy planes over Abkhazia.
On Tuesday, ITAR-Tass quoted an unnamed Russian air force official as saying it would absurd to use a MiG fighter jet to shoot down a spy plane: "You could shoot it down with a slingshot. Abkhazia has enough of its own anti-aircraft tools to complete that mission."
But Georgia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that video evidence proved a MiG jet took off from the former Russian air base at Gudauta to shoot down the spy plane and that the MiG then flew on into Russian air space.
"The Russian Federation has ... begun an alarming military build up in the conflict region," it said. "The recent steps of the Russian Federation are clearly directed toward the annexation of a part of sovereign territory of Georgia."
Earlier this year, both Abkhazia and South Ossetia appealed to the world community to recognize them as independent. Both cited Kosovo as a precedent.
In Abkhazia, the region's leader, Sergei Bagapsh, again echoed that precedent in an address to the region's residents.
"A precedent, on the basis of which Abkhazia can even more persistently claim its rights, has been created," Bagapsh said.
"Having recognized Kosovo, the international community has opened a new page in history, where there should be a place for the independent state of Abkhazia," he said.
Associated Press writers Misha Dzhindzhikhashvili in Tbilisi, Georgia, and Ruslan Khasig in Sukhumi, Georgia, contributed to this report.
--
Video: ''Georgia behind Abkhazia tensions: Putin'' - Russia Today
- Related News
Sunday, 20 April 2008
Question for the Incoming US Administration Concerning the Republic of Georgia
1. John McCain
Following a short visit to Georgia in the late summer of 2006 the Republican Party's presidential candidate, Senator John McCain, stated on Georgian television that he hoped that the breakaway regions (sc. of Abkhazia and South Ossetia) would soon learn what it is like to live in freedom, by which he meant that life would be better for them, if Tbilisi could reassert its control.
2. Hillary Clinton
One of the two Democratic Party's hopefuls to achieve nomination as presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, has now publicly stated her objection to the (welcome) recent moves by Russia towards Abkhazia and S. Ossetia, complaining about President Putin's moves to undermine the 'young democracies' on Russia’s southern periphery, conveniently forgetting that Abkhazia has been developing its own democratic institutions for the last 15 years.
3. Barack Obama
The views on this issue of the third potential presidential candidate are keenly awaited.
Fact 1
Towards the end of the first month of the Georgian-Abkhazian war (1992-93) the young man who had been put in charge of the Georgian troops operative in Abkhazia since Eduard Shevardnadze's invasion of 14th August 1992, 26 year-old Gia Q’arq’arashvili, while being interviewed in Russian for a TV-broadcast issued the chilling threat that he would sacrifice 100,000 Georgians to wipe out all 93,000 Abkhazians inside Abkhazia, so long as Georgia's borders remained inviolate...
Fact 2
Most of 1993 saw a military stand-off, with the two forces facing each other over the River Gumista, to the north of Abkhazia's capital Sukhum. That year the April edition of Le Monde Diplomatique published an article on the war which included a worrying quote from Giorgi Khaindrava, Minister for Abkhazia in Tbilisi (and for many of the post-war years the man responsible for negotiating with the Abkhazians on behalf of the Georgian government), for it demonstrated that the threat from Q’arq’arashvili (who had resigned as military commander in Abkhazia after the loss of Gagra on the pretext of having suffered a nervous breakdown, only to be appointed by Shevardnadze a few weeks later as new Minister of Defence in place of T’engiz K’itovani, who had led the troops into Abkhazia) of the previous August had been no accidental slip of the tongue. He clinically observed that all the Georgians needed to do to wipe out the Abkhazians was to kill their gene-pool of 15,000 young men, stressing 'we are perfectly capable of this'...
QUESTION
Georgia's first post-communist president, the late Zviad Gamsakhurdia, was responsible for initiating a 2-year war in South Ossetia (1990-92). Georgia's 2nd post-communist president, Eduard Shevardnadze, was responsible for starting the 14-month war in Abkhazia, during which the Abkhazians suffered the loss of 4% of their population. Georgia's third post-communist president, Mikheil Saak’ashvili, in 2006 sent militiamen into the one region of Abkhazia over which the Abkhazians never managed to secure control at the end of the 1992-93 war, namely the Upper K’odor Valley, in direct contravention of the peace-accords signed in Moscow in 1994 by both parties to the conflict — they are still there and reportedly being reinforced. So, taking into consideration the overt threats of soldier Q’arq’arashvili and politician-negotiator Khaindrava as well as the constant belligerent rumblings from Saak’ashvili about his intention to restore Georgia's territorial integrity, how many more of their population (specifically those of child-bearing age) should the Abkhazians (and southern Ossetians) see exterminated before Washington's champions of freedom and democracy finally twig what renewed subordination within 'free' and 'democratic' Georgia would mean for these two ethnic groups?
George Hewitt
Honorary Representative for Abkhazia in the UK
- Question for the Incoming US Administration Concerning the Republic of Georgia - CircassianWorld.com
Tuesday, 15 April 2008
Kremlin Backing of Cossacks Heightens Tensions in the North Caucasus
Kremlin Backing of Cossacks Heightens Tensions in the North Caucasus
By Fatima Tlisova. Fatima Tlisova is a Fellow at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
Moscow is boosting its programs to support Cossack communities in the Caucasus. The Russian president’s advisor for Cossack affairs, General Gennady Troshev, recently toured the republics of the North Caucasus and met with their respective presidents. The discussions focused on the issues related to government support for the Cossack communities, providing them with office space, government jobs, and involving Cossack troops in protecting the state borders of the Russian Federation (adjoining Georgia and Azerbaijan in the Caucasus) and in combating terrorism and extremism. Read more...
By Fatima Tlisova. Fatima Tlisova is a Fellow at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
Moscow is boosting its programs to support Cossack communities in the Caucasus. The Russian president’s advisor for Cossack affairs, General Gennady Troshev, recently toured the republics of the North Caucasus and met with their respective presidents. The discussions focused on the issues related to government support for the Cossack communities, providing them with office space, government jobs, and involving Cossack troops in protecting the state borders of the Russian Federation (adjoining Georgia and Azerbaijan in the Caucasus) and in combating terrorism and extremism. Read more...
- The Jamestown Foundation, Chechnya Weekly - Volume 9, Issue 14 (April 10, 2008)
Saturday, 12 April 2008
Campaign for "Recognition of Abkhazia"
Campaign for "Recognition of Abkhazia"
You will find below the link for the campaign started by "The Caucasus Abkhazia Solidarity Committee, Istanbul" for "Recognition of Abkhazia".
http://www.abhazya.org/imza/imza-kampanyasi.html
Although it is Turkish if you want you may put your name below the campaign. "In short: It is stated that the Abkhazians have the natural rights to determinetheir own fate". You will see a box under the text. That is "ABHAZYA'YI TANIYIN" (RECOGNIZE ABKHAZIA).
You will find below the link for the campaign started by "The Caucasus Abkhazia Solidarity Committee, Istanbul" for "Recognition of Abkhazia".
http://www.abhazya.org/imza/imza-kampanyasi.html
Although it is Turkish if you want you may put your name below the campaign. "In short: It is stated that the Abkhazians have the natural rights to determinetheir own fate". You will see a box under the text. That is "ABHAZYA'YI TANIYIN" (RECOGNIZE ABKHAZIA).
Adınızı Soyadınızı yazıp gönder butonuna basmanız yeterlidir. (Please write down your name and surname into the box and press "Gönder"- ''SEND'' button.)
Adınız (Your Name):
Soyadınız (Surname) :
Gönder (Send) / Sil (Delete)
Soyadınız (Surname) :
Gönder (Send) / Sil (Delete)
________________________
Date : 12 March 2008
Issue : 2008/034
Subject: Abkhazia’s Independence
THE CAUCASUS-ABKHAZIA SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE’S CALL TO TURKISH AND INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC OPINIONS
The Caucasus-Abkhazia Solidarity Committee invites the world community to recognize the basic right of self determination of Abkhazian people and independence of Abkhazian state under the extraordinary circumstances caused by the sudden attack of Georgia to Abkhazia.
The Committee was established in August 1992 by the representatives of 7 million Caucasian people living in Turkey as a Caucasian Diaspora to support Abkhazia. This committee is the highest body representing the Abkhazian population in Diaspora, which has been acting as a link between Abkhazia and Diaspora during the war, establishing coordination and information flow between the official agencies, and continues to perform its task since the end of the war, as well. It also informs the governments, relevant ambassadors and representations, international NGOs, and other official organizations on the problems of Abkhazia. We, therefore, would like to bring the view of the Abkhazian Diaspora with reference to the Abkhazian-Georgian conflict and especially the latest developments to your attention. Read more...
Issue : 2008/034
Subject: Abkhazia’s Independence
THE CAUCASUS-ABKHAZIA SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE’S CALL TO TURKISH AND INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC OPINIONS
The Caucasus-Abkhazia Solidarity Committee invites the world community to recognize the basic right of self determination of Abkhazian people and independence of Abkhazian state under the extraordinary circumstances caused by the sudden attack of Georgia to Abkhazia.
The Committee was established in August 1992 by the representatives of 7 million Caucasian people living in Turkey as a Caucasian Diaspora to support Abkhazia. This committee is the highest body representing the Abkhazian population in Diaspora, which has been acting as a link between Abkhazia and Diaspora during the war, establishing coordination and information flow between the official agencies, and continues to perform its task since the end of the war, as well. It also informs the governments, relevant ambassadors and representations, international NGOs, and other official organizations on the problems of Abkhazia. We, therefore, would like to bring the view of the Abkhazian Diaspora with reference to the Abkhazian-Georgian conflict and especially the latest developments to your attention. Read more...
- Kafkas-Abhazya Dayanışma Komitesi - İmza Kampanyası
- The Republic of Abkhazia
- Abkhazia's Liberation and International Law, By E. K. Adzhindzhal, Sukhum, 2007
- Abkhazia is Abkhazia by Stanislav Lakoba
Friday, 11 April 2008
"Kosovo... will speed up the recognition of our independence"- Sergei Shamba
10/04/2008 Moscow News, №14 2008During last few years the permanent status of Kosovo has been one of the main problems in global affairs. After February 17, when Kosovo declared its independence and was recognized by some nations, the world divided into two opposing camps. Some believe that the division of Serbia means the final end of the collapse of the former Yugoslavia. Others anticipate and worry that the recognition of Kosovo opens a Pandora's box that will lead to a chain reaction all over the world, spreading chaos, violence, and instability.
Undoubtedly, many are keeping a close eye on the Kosovo developments, including many in the former Soviet Union. There are four self-proclaimed, unrecognized and de facto independent states that have appeared in the aftermath of the Soviet collapse: Abkhazia and South Ossetia (which are both legally regions of Georgia), Transdnistria (legally a part of Moldavia), and Nagorno-Karabakh (legally a part of Azerbaijan). Fighting has claimed the lives of thousands in each of these stalemated conflicts. But undoubtedly, Kosovo's precedent raises the spectre of thawing the ice on these frozen conflicts.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia, Sergei Shamba, gave an exclusive interview to The Moscow News on the evolving situation.
MN: Mister Minister, could you tell us what kind of changes happened in Abkhazian foreign policy after February 17 this year?
Shamba: I can say there have been some serious changes in our relations with Russia, even though there have been no changes in our foreign policy. Step by step we are working toward international recognition, and we are continuing this policy at the present time. Our goal is the creation of an independent, democratic, and legal state, corresponding to all international standards, which will be recognized by the world community. We are sure that such a policy will help us reach our goal sooner or later.
The problem of Kosovo has become the center of attention for the world community in regards to the settlement of such conflicts. Until February 17, there was the first wave of recognition of the independence of former republics of the USSR and Yugoslavia. After February 17, after Kosovo's recognition, the second wave of recognition of the former Soviet and Yugoslavian autonomous states begins.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia, Sergei Shamba, gave an exclusive interview to The Moscow News on the evolving situation.
MN: Mister Minister, could you tell us what kind of changes happened in Abkhazian foreign policy after February 17 this year?
Shamba: I can say there have been some serious changes in our relations with Russia, even though there have been no changes in our foreign policy. Step by step we are working toward international recognition, and we are continuing this policy at the present time. Our goal is the creation of an independent, democratic, and legal state, corresponding to all international standards, which will be recognized by the world community. We are sure that such a policy will help us reach our goal sooner or later.
The problem of Kosovo has become the center of attention for the world community in regards to the settlement of such conflicts. Until February 17, there was the first wave of recognition of the independence of former republics of the USSR and Yugoslavia. After February 17, after Kosovo's recognition, the second wave of recognition of the former Soviet and Yugoslavian autonomous states begins.
Certainly, we hope to be in this second wave. We can now discern a direct analogy between Kosovo and Abkhazia, even though Abkhazia has much greater legal, historical, and moral reasons for having its independence recognized than Kosovo does.
When Georgia abandoned the USSR, Abkhazia remained in the USSR. The Abkhazians didn't participate in the Georgian referendum, but they participated in the referendum to preserve the USSR. Thus, Abkhazia remained in the USSR until its collapse. Only after the collapse of the Soviet Union did Abkhazia became a separate entity, beyond both the USSR and Georgia. That is, the Abkhazians are not separatists. Georgians are the separatists. Another important point of view is that Abkhazia is absent in the Constitution of Georgia completely.
We live on our native land. We ourselves obtained our independence without any foreign military aid, in contrast to Kosovo. The Abkhazians ourselves drove out the Georgian aggressors from our territory.
In contrast to Kosovo we have developed all structures of state and government authority, developed civil society, a multiparty political system, an independent mass media, and non-governmental funds and organizations. During the last twenty years we have had presidential and parliamentary elections.
But Kosovo's precedent gives us hope that the process of recognition can develop more quickly. In global affairs things develop unexpectedly and quickly. Almost anything can happen as a result of present events.
Our point of view is that the world community has to recognize Abkhazia after Kosovo. But there are some political circumstances which may influence this situation. Obtaining recognition is a process, and we are making our final push.
MN: Did you feel changes from Moscow regarding to Abkhazia after February 17?
Shamba: You know that the State Duma (the lower house of the Russian parliament - Ed.) adopted a statement in March this year, which is a very important step for us on the road to recognition. In this statement the Russian deputies declared that Abkhazia, Transdnistria, and South Ossetia have more legal, historical, and moral reasons for recognition than Kosovo.
I had a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergei Lavrov. We discussed the questions of the Russian-Abkhazian relations.
It is obvious to me that Russia is going to have official relations with Abkhazia. It is an important result for us of February 17. We are waiting and we have such assurances that Russia will act openly and officially with us. You may make such conclusions after Russia cancelled sanctions against Abkhazia.
MN: President Putin declared in a news conference in the Kremlin that if Western states recognize Kosovo, Russia will not act as a monkey and repeat it in the similar case in its attitude towards Abkhazia, Transdnistria, and South Ossetia. How do you estimate these words?
Shamba: There were many other statements earlier, that Russia will act sufficiently in the similar case. We and all other people have such expectations. Gradually Russia is recovering its power in global affairs. Frankly speaking, we wish Russia good luck in returning to the influence it lost in the 1990s.
MN: What states are ready today to recognize the Abkhazian independence?
Shamba: Somebody has to make the first step. We think that if Russia is able to recognize us, other states may then choose to follow suit. It is very important for us to obtain recognition from such a great state as Russia. It may decide many of our problems.
First and foremost, it opens big opportunities for economic cooperation. Second, such recognition provides the guarantee of our security. We would give Russia an opportunity to realize their national interests on our territory. For us the recognition by Moscow means the recognition of the whole world.
There is a struggle for influence between Russia and the United States in the Caucasus. The U.S. supports Georgia, but Abkhazia is on Moscow's side.
At present, the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict is in a frozen condition. There has been no progress in our negotiations. And stability is also absent. Georgia tried to gain revenge in 1998-2001. More than 100 peacekeepers were killed. Our recognition by Russia is a way to peace and stability in the region. We are ready to sign with Moscow an agreement for allowing the Russian armed forces on our territory, and the creation of a buffer zone on our borders on Inguri River.
MN: Is there any possibility for Sukhumi that Abkhazia will join Russia in the future?
Shamba: We don't state the question in such a way. First and foremost, it is contrary to the Russian and Abkhazian Constitutions. Abkhazia has a big interest in joining to the United State of Russia and Belarus. After all, we were for the Soviet Union.
MN: Is there any threat of a Georgian invasion to Abkhazia in the present time?
Shamba: Georgia has not enough resources for that. Even a state with a powerful military and economic potential couldn't decide these conflicts. All attempts by Georgia to conquer Abkhazia by force have been met with failure. I don't have any doubts that the result would be the same if hot heads in Tbilisi take the risk of another crazy attempt. Georgia is increasing its military budget permanently. However, we also are strengthening our military forces.
MN: How will the leadership of Abkhazia act if Georgia becomes a member of NATO?
Shamba: We can see in the statement of the State Duma that if Georgia joins NATO, the question appears concerning the territories where local inhabitants don't want membership in the Alliance. In any case the chances of our recognition will increase. We have to obtain the recognition of the Abkhazian independence earlier, before Georgia joins NATO.
MN: How do you estimate the Russian support for Abkhazia today?
Shamba: We have close friendly relations. These relations are developing successfully. Our trade turnover is increasing. We are ready to develop with Russia military cooperation for the purpose of guaranteeing our security. We are ready to give our territory for the deployment of Russian military forces.
MN: Does Abkhazia participate in preparing of Winter Olympic Games in Sochi in 2014?
Shamba: We discussed seriously this question with the Russian leadership. The abolition of sanctions opens big opportunities for such cooperation.
MN: Do you have a dream?
Shamba: I have been fighting for the independence of Abkhazia for many years. My dream is liberty and the independence of my Motherland!
Fact box:
Sergei Shamba was born on March 15, 1951 in Gudauta. He was first appointed as a government minister in May 1997. In 1998 at the Yerevan Institute of Archeology, Shamba defended his doctoral thesis, entitled "The political, social, economic and cultural environment of ancient and medieval Abkhazia, based on archeology and numismatology." During the Georgian-Abkhaz war of 1992-1993, he held a position of the First Vice Defense Minister. He now holds the rank of Colonel. He is the author of various scientific publications, and is married, with a son and daughter.
By Yuri Plutenko
- "Kosovo... will speed up the recognition of our independence"- Sergei Shamba - The Moscow News
- Related Issues
- Abkhazia's Liberation and International Law, By E. K. Adzhindzhal, Sukhum, 2007
- Some Thoughts on 'Abkhazia is not Kosovo' by David L. Phillips (Transitions Online, 7 Feb 2008) by George Hewitt - Circassian World
- Human rights activist: Abkhazia's and South Ossetia's sovereignty more legitimate than Kosovo's
- Abkhazia, the country that doesn't exist, prepares to follow Kosovo's example
- A Way to Let Abkhazia Live A Normal Life - The Moscow Times
- Abkhazia is Abkhazia by Stanislav Lakoba
Friday, 4 April 2008
Putin says Russia will support Abkhazia and S. Ossetia
MOSCOW, April 3 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will provide all the necessary support and assistance to Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the Russian Foreign Ministry said quoting President Vladimir Putin.
Georgia is seeking to regain control of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which proclaimed independence following the break up of the Soviet Union in 1991. Tbilisi accuses Moscow of encouraging separatism and interfering in its internal affairs.
"The Russian president stressed that Russia is not unsympathetic to the aspirations and problems to the two republics' population, where many Russian nationals live," the ministry said.
Earlier the presidents of the two breakaway republics expressed in a statement to Putin their concerns over the "aggressive course by the Georgian authorities to destabilize the situation in the conflict zones, Georgia's militarization, the build up of offensive weapons and troops close to the borders of the [self-proclaimed] republics."
The Russian president said that all Georgia's attempts to resolve the situation by applying pressure on Abkhazia and South Ossetia are senseless.
"Any attempts to apply political, economic or especially military pressure on Abkhazia and South Ossetia are futile and counterproductive," the ministry said citing Putin.
Sergei Bagapsh, the president of Abkhazia, said in an interview with RIA Novosti that Putin's statement would "guarantee security for our republics. This is how I understood it."
Two weeks ago the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, proposed that the president and the government consider the issue of whether to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Ex-Soviet breakaway regions have stepped up their drive for independence since Kosovo's declaration of independence on February 17. Abkhazia and South Ossetia, along with Moldova's Transdnestr, have since asked Russia's parliament, the United Nations and other organizations to recognize their independence.
Peacekeeping in the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict zone is currently carried out by collective CIS forces staffed with Russian service personnel. The Georgian-South Ossetian conflict area is controlled by joint forces also including Russian peacekeepers.
- Putin says Russia will support Abkhazia and S. Ossetia - Ria Novosti
- Related News
- Putin says Russia to render practical support for Abkhazia, S Ossetia
- Abkhazia: Nato Should Consider Membership Carefully
- Bagapsh: Abkhazia is not for sale - Caucasus Foundation
- Abkhazia's Liberation and International Law, By E. K. Adzhindzhal, Sukhum, 2007
Circassians Hope to Use Development Corporation to Expand Ties
Window on Eurasia, by Paul Goble
Baku, April 3 – Three Circassian republics in the North Caucasus – Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, and Adygeia – hope to use a regional development corporation proposed by Russia’s Southern Federal District not only to build physical infrastructure but also to expand social and political ties among themselves. On Monday, the Moscow newspaper Kommersant described the corporate scheme the Russian authorities back and its limited and very specific concrete purposes in a lengthy article entitled “North Caucasus Republics Unite in a Corporation” (www.kommersant.ru/doc.aspx?DocsID=873235).
But the next day, a Circassian news portal, in reproducing the story, gave it a very different title -- “KBR, KChR and Adygeia Unite in a Corporation” – one that underscored what the leaders of these three ethnically related republics see as its broader cultural and political meaning (http://windowoneurasia.blogspot.com/2008/04/www.adigam.com/ru/news/0531032008.html).
The idea of creating a Corporation for the Development of the South of Russia was put forward last Friday by Dmitry Pumlyanskiy, an official of the coordinating council of industrialists and entrepreneurs of the Southern Federal District, “Kommersant” reported.
He said that such a new open stock company could initiate “transportation and energy products which would be financed from the investment fund,” would involve six or seven regions of the Southern Federal district, and would focus its attention first on improving highway transportation.
Pumlyanskiy indicated that the original members of this corporation would be the governments of Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia, Adygeia and Stavropol kray. Except for Stavropol and North Ossetia, of course, all of these republics are populated primarily by Circassians.
And the leaders of these three Circassian republics were especially enthusiastic about this project, the Moscow paper said, clearly viewing it as another means to reestablish the ties Stalin and other Soviet leaders sought to destroy in order to prevent this national group from being able to defend its culture and advance its political aims.
Over the past decade, the leaders of these three republics have already taken many steps in this direction, including organizing the exchange of cultural groups and students and, what is particularly important, having each of their main newspapers issue a special issue about one of the other Circassian republics at least once a month.
With regard to the current project, Adygei Economic Development Minister Aslan Matyzhev was especially enthusiastic. He said his republic simply had to “participate in the corporation. And Kabardino-Balkaria President Arsen Kanokov called the corporation “a completely reasonable” idea that he said he fully supports.
While his republic already works with private investors, Kanokov continued, “if a new structure which really allows for better integration of our projects appears,” then he and his republic “will work with it.” Indeed, the only people who have not signaled that they approve of it are Moscow bureaucrats, some of whom may see its political subtext.
And consequently, it is far from clear whether this corporation will ever be formed or have the impact that these Circassian communities hope for. But even as they wait to see, one of them is working to reach out to the five to seven million Circassians who live in the Turkey, Jordan and other parts of the Middle East.That is Karachay-Cherkessia, whose government this week announced plans to build an international airport to connect the republic with the outside world and allow its citizens to travel without as now having to travel to the airport at Mineral’nye Vody some distance away (http://www.natpress.net/stat.php?id=3329).
Thursday, 3 April 2008
Abkhazia: Nato Should Consider Membership Carefully
UNPO - Wednesday, 02 April 2008
President Bagapsh urges Nato to consider the affect of any possible accession moves on the Caucasus and to note Abkhazia’s concerns.
Below is a letter issued by the President of the Republic of Abkhazia:
TO: SECRETARY-GENERAL OF NATO, MR. JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER
TO: NATO COUNTRIES REPRESENTATIVES
Dear Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer,
The Bucharest Summit, which is going to review the issues of new members’ entry into NATO, may create serious problems in the Caucasus. For the preservation of peace and stability in our region and disperse fear and confrontation, it is necessary, to a greater extent, to consider present realities and opinions of all interested parties.
We are deeply concerned that on a background of political instability and unresolved conflicts, some prospective members of the Organization, in particular Georgia, still consider NATO as force to resolve conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Abkhazia repeatedly has been a victim of aggression by Georgia, which gives us reason to consider Georgia as a potential source of military provocations and illegitimate claims to Abkhazia.
Groundless recognition by the United Nations of the territorial integrity of Georgia within the borders of the former GSSR had indirectly acknowledged numerous violations of Human Rights and policy of discrimination of the Abkhaz people in the time of Stalin’s era. Moreover, the troops of newly adopted to the United Nations Democratic Republic of Georgia, had launched on the 14th of August 1992 a bloody war in Abkhazia, destroying peaceful population and monuments of Abkhaz culture and history. The Georgian-Abkhaz War had inevitably broken off the relations between Abkhazia and Georgia.
It is almost 15 years since Abkhazia id developing its own democratic political system, market economy, legislation, independent courts, civil society and human rights, in accordance with the international standards. Our National interests and external political priorities do significantly differ from those of Georgia.
Today’s Abkhazia is a state with sustainable development indicators. Abkhazia is able to incur obligations and play a full connecting role in the Caucasus. Considering the abovementioned, we appeal to You to take all possible measures to prevent reiteration of the mistakes of the past. While taking a decision on the Georgia’s membership in NATO, please consider valid opinion of Abkhazia.
Respectfully Yours,
PRESIDENT S. BAGAPSH
April 1, 2008
Sukhum
Note:
To access the letter in PDF format (33kb), please click here.
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