Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has denied allegations Moscow is preparing for a military confrontation with Georgia. He said the increase in the Russian peacekeeping contingent on the border of the republic of Abkhazia is in compliance with existing agreements.

“Until now the number of our peacekeepers was lower than the agreement allows, and the build-up of additional forces is within the limits of the agreed numbers,” Lavrov stated.

He also made comments concerning Russia’s recent statements about its readiness to protect its citizens in Abkhazia.

“Russia is not planning to go to war. The only thing I can say is that all the statements that we’ve made about the need to protect our citizens were based on the Russian Constitution which obliges the Russian state to protect the lives and dignity of its citizens irrespective of where they are,” he explained.

According to Moscow, the decision to introduce more peacekeeping troops is linked to Georgia’s readiness to start a military operation against the republic of Abkhazia – an allegation strongly denied by Georgia.

Russia also links the military build-up to the shooting down of two unmanned Georgian spy planes in Abkhazia, which were flying in violation of the mandates of the peacekeeping zone.

Georgian officials say introducing new peacekeepers without its approval is unacceptable.

“It would mean a violation of all regulations, a straightforward attempt to annex Georgian territories and a way to make the Russian military presence legitimate,” said Nino Burdjanadze, the Georgian Parliament Speaker.

Abkhazian officials, meanwhile, say they would be glad to see more peacekeepers in the area.

“As the situation deteriorates, it's only logical to increase the number of Russian peacekeepers. According to existing agreements, the peacekeeping force here can have up to 3,000 troops. At present, there are 2,200 troops in Abkhazia at the most. So it is fully lawful to bring that number up to 3,000. We do deem it necessary. It’s a vast territory and the current number of troops cannot patrol it effectively,” said Sergey Shamba from the Abkhazian Interior Ministry.

04.30.2008  Russia Today

Moscow, Georgia's attempts to use force in Abkhazia and South Ossetia will meet with "adequate and tough response," the Russian Ministry of Defense warned on Tuesday.

"Any attempts by Georgia to use force in the settlement of the conflicts, as well as measures of violence against Russian peacekeepers and Russian citizens in the territory of Abkhazia and South Ossetia will meet with adequate and tough response," the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a press release.

The ministry noted "a concentration of Georgian armed forces on the borders with Abkhazia and South Ossetia."

"Georgian law-enforcers keep watching the activity of the collective peacekeeping forces (KSPM) in the southern security zone (Georgia's Zugdidi district). Representatives of Georgian secret services, in violation of the effective agreements, keep monitoring the transport vehicles of Russian peacekeepers that enter the southern security zone from Abkhazia, and taking footage of them. Furthermore, repeated attempts by Georgian television journalists have been registered to penetrate into KSPM posts," the statement said.

"Due to the heightening of tensions in the zone of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict, the Russian peacekeepers command put up 15 additional observation posts," the Ministry of Defense said, underling that the Russian peacekeeping contingents in the zones of the Georigan-Abkhazian and Georgian-Ossetian conflicts "will continue to fulfill their tasks on the basis of their international commitments."

04.28.2008  Itar-Tass

Moscow, Russia's Defense Ministry issued a stern warning to Georgia on Tuesday over its actions in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and pledged to deploy more Russian peacekeepers in the area.

The ministry said that any violence against Russians in the Abkhazia and South Ossetia would be met with tough reprisals from Moscow.

"Any attempts by Georgia to use force to resolve the conflicts, or to employ violent measures against Russian peacekeepers or Russian citizens living in Abkhazia and South Ossetia will encounter an appropriate and tough response," the ministry said in a statement.

The statement also said Georgian aggression had forced Russia to take steps to increase peacekeeping numbers in the conflict zones, saying that, "the strengthening by Georgia of its forces in the immediate proximity to the conflict zones, threats of military force and... provocations on the part of Georgian authorities prevent Russian servicemen from performing their peacekeeping tasks."

Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that Georgia was preparing to launch a military operation against Abkhazia, saying that Tbilisi was massing troops, weaponry, ammunition, food and supplies in the upper Kodor region, on the border with Abkhazia.

"The number of troops and police exceeds 1,500... The composition of the contingent indicates that Georgia is preparing to launch a military operation against Abkhazia," the statement said.

Meanwhile, Georgia denounced Russia's move as aggression and urged the international community to prevent an escalation of tension in the region, Prime Minister Vladimir Gurgenidze said.

"We condemn Russia's decision to increase the number of peacekeepers in the conflict zones as an extremely irresponsible move, especially against the background of Russia's latest statements about Abkhazia and South Ossetia... We will consider every soldier and every technical unit arriving in the conflict zone as... a potential aggressor," Gurgenidze said.

"We call on our partners to denounce the Russian decision and take every possible measure to prevent an increase in the contingent, which will force an escalation of tension in the region," the Georgian PM said.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke away from Georgia in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Georgia is looking to regain control over the two republics.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called earlier this month for closer ties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Putin's statement provoked an angry response from Tbilisi, which accused Russia of attempting to annex the two republics.

Georgia also claims that on April 20 a Russian MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter from the Gudauta military base in Abkhazia, where Russian peacekeepers have been stationed since the end of a bloody conflict in the early 1990s, shot down a Georgian drone, a claim Russia has denied.

Russia said video footage of the alleged attack broadcast by Georgia was faked.

A NATO HQ source, who wished to remain anonymous, said on Tuesday that NATO was "very concerned" about statements made by Russia pledging to protect Russian passport holders in Abkhazia.

However, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Russia's measures to support the two breakaway regions' populations were not aimed at establishing control over the republics.

"It is evident that Russia's steps are aimed at ensuring the fundamental rights of residents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and not at establishing any control over the territories of the both republics," the ministry said on its website.

Russia's envoy to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, said the Russia-NATO Council would discuss on Wednesday the situation around Abkhazia and South Ossetia. He also called Georgian footage of the drone incident "cartoons."

04.29.2008  RIA Novosti

Moscow, The republic of Abkhazia is prepared to sign a military agreement with Russia, the Abkhaz foreign minister said Monday.

"We are ready to sign a military agreement with Russia. We are ready to observe all Russian interests in the region in exchange for military protection by Russia and open economic cooperation," Sergei Shamba said, speaking on the phone to a RIA Novosti correspondent.

Shamba also said if Russia had an interest in a military presence in Abkhazia, then the republic was ready to oblige. "We realize that Russia has military interests in Abkhazia, because it's a strategically important region," he said.

The head of the Russian lower house's committee on CIS affairs, Alexei Ostrovsky, suggested on Monday waiting until Abkhazia's status has been better defined before talking about a possible Russian military presence in the republic.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke away from Georgia in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Georgia is looking to regain control over the two republics.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called earlier this month for closer ties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Putin's statement provoked an angry response from Tbilisi, with Georgia's foreign minister accusing Russia of attempting "to annex" the two republics.

Georgia also claims that on April 20 a Russian MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter from the Gudauta military base in Abkhazia, where Russian peacekeepers have been stationed since the end of a bloody conflict in the early 1990s, shot down a Georgian drone, a claim Russia has denied.

The incidents have seen relations between Moscow and Tbilisi plunge to a new low.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia have stepped up their drive for self-rule since Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia on February 17. Abkhazia and South Ossetia, along with Moldova's Transdnestr, have all asked Russia's parliament, the UN, and other organizations to recognize their independence.

The State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, proposed in March that the president and the government consider the issue of whether to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Valery Kenyaikin, the Russian Foreign Ministry's ambassador at large, said on April 25 that Russia would do everything possible to protect the interests of Russian citizens living in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

"We will not leave our citizens in Abkhazia and South Ossetia in difficulty and this should be clearly understood... We will do everything possible to avert a military conflict." He also added however that Russia would "have to use military force," if the need arose.

Sergei Mironov, speaker of the Federation Council, Russia's upper house of parliament, said on Monday, commenting on Kenyaikin's statement that: "Russia proceeds from the fact that a great number of Russians live in Abkhazia. It is evident that if there is a threat to the lives of Russian nationals - or any other threat - Russia will not remain on the sidelines."

Also on Monday, acting Georgian Foreign Minister David Bakradze called Mironov's statement an attempt by Moscow to switch to "a policy of military aggression."

"This threatens switching from a policy of annexing our territories to a policy of direct military aggression," he told journalists in Brussels.

Georgia's Rustavi-2 TV station also quoted Bakradze as saying that Georgia would attempt to get Russian peacekeeping forces stationed in Abkhazia replaced with NATO peacekeepers.

NATO spokesman James Appathurai told Georgian TV reporters in Brussels that all NATO members believe that the Russian peacekeeping contingent should leave the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict zone.

Vakhtang Lezhava, a deputy Georgian economic development minister, told journalists on Monday that Georgia would link its consent to Russia's admission to the World Trade Organization to the Abkhazia and South Ossetia issue. He said in particular that Tbilisi was seeking a retraction of President Putin's statement on the strengthening of ties with the breakaway republics.

04.28.2008  RIA Novosti

Luxembourg, NATO spokesman James Appathurai denied Georgian mass media assertions that the alliance demands the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Abkhazia.

Appathurai stressed he had not said anything like that and nothing of the kind had been said in the NATO Council.

Earlier in the day, Georgian mass media carried an interview with Appathurai in which he allegedly said that NATO countries were thinking that the Russian peacekeepers should be withdrawn from the conflict zone.

04.28.2008  Itar-Tass

Cherkessk, The North Caucasian supporters of Abkhazia joined their forces again, just as they had done the same thing while Abkhazia was at war with Georgia from 1992 to 1993, in response to Georgia's strengthened resolution to resume its control over Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the two countries that seek improved chances of international recognition since Kosovo set itself independent in March 2007.

Groups of people from Abkhazia, Adygeia, Karachai-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria met in Cherkessk, capital of Karachai-Cherkessia, to attend on April 26 a special congress of the Abkhazian Territorial War Volunteers. The volunteers decided to form an umbrella organization to cover all Volunteers-Veterans of the 1992-1993 Abkhazian Territorial War.

Zaur Borov, who participated as someone of Kabarda origin in the work to organize the congress, put the reason behind the choice of Cherkessk as the point of meeting because it allowed easy access to all who either came from the eastward or from the westward. "This is only the first step towards the unification of volunteers who come from Adygeia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Abkhazia and Karachai-Cherkessia. The Kazakhs of Don and Terek-Greben and the volunteers of South and North Caucasus stated willingness to join the umbrella organization. And President Eduard Kokoiti of South Ossetia and some parliamentarians of North Ossetia supported the idea of establishing the organization," said Borov.

Anzor Gloov, who was among the people attending the congress, reiterated the need for the establishment of the organization: "It has been a necessity for a long time to unite disintegrated organizations. It has been a topic of discussion all the time; however, when Georgia has become all the more involved in activities in the conflict zone, veterans of North Caucasus and Abkhazia felt a growing need to unite their forces. Just as Georgia has its friends in the West, Abkhazia has its friends too; and it is hight time that they united to form a single center for coordination."

Goals

The new organization set it as a principle not to interfere with the political structures of the regions. It structured its goals around this principle:

• To provide financial aid to relatives of the volunteers who either died or remained injured.

• To improve cooperation and friendship between the peoples of Caucasus and of South Russia.

• To provide assistance to administrations at both federal and local levels in preventing terrorism, religious, political and national fanaticism.

• To form suggestions to prevent conflicts in national and religious matters

• To help improve cultural and economic relations between South Russia and Abkhazia by introducing more mutual agreements with civil organizations

To avoid political interference

The principle of avoiding political interference received verbal support from Ibrahim Yagan, who came from Kabardino-Balkaria to attend the congress: "We all have the right to express our own political views, of course. However, according to the regulations adopted by the newly established umbrella organization, nobody may take part in any political activities and nobody may make political statements on behalf of the organization. This is because the war in Abkhazia was followed by political tricks played on the war volunteers. And it was not easy to avoid such tricks."

Zaur Agmiyev, a member of the Abkhazian parliament, read out loud a message from Abkhazian President Sergei Bagapsh. His statement read as follows: "The Abkhazians will never lose contact with the people who provided invaluable assistance to them while they went through a tough time. As the Abkhazian economy is on the rise nowadays, we can now luckily talk of providing financial assistance to relatives of the dead volunteers.

Full support for Russian policies

The executive board of the organization was set up with the participation of three people from each region. The congress ended with the issue of following statements: "The volunteers will help once more the Abkhazians in case Georgia attempts to use force and establish its control over Abkhazia. It is hoped that Georgia takes a commonsense approach to and builds awareness of the need to set relations with Abkhazia, with equal rights shared between the two 'neighboring' countries. We fully support Russian policies of improving official relations with Abkhazia and of protecting the security as well as rights of its citizens in Abkhazia. We call on the Russian administration to speed up the process by which Abkhazia gets its international recognition without damaging the national interests of the Russian Federation and the regional stability across Caucasus."

04.28.2008  Agency Caucasus

Sukhum/Tbilisi, A recent statement from Valeri Kenyakin, Russian Foreign Ministry's special envoy for relations with the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), has come as the reiteration of claims that Georgia might soon launch a war on Abkhazia.

"Russia is worried that Georgia might soon launch a military operation against Abkhazia," said Kenyakin in his statement.

A possible Georgian military operation would definitely not remain unanswered, added Kenyakin: "Although it is likely that Georgia may attempt to launch a military operation against Abkhazia soon, Russia will do its best in any case and defend its citizens in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russia will definitely not leave its citizens in these countries alone."

Gal residents claimed under pressure to get Russian passport

The Georgian Rustavi-2 television station reported that Abkhazia had been sending off reinforcement troops to Gal for some time now. Residents were forced by the Abkhazian troops to get a Russian passport, the Georgian television channel further reported, or they would be forced to leave their homes.

The response from the Abkhazian administration was quite clear: The Georgian television station's report was a plain nonsense. The first statement came from Garri Kupalba, Deputy Defense Minister, who said that troops had never ever been deployed in the safety zone since 1994, when the concept of the safety zone came about for the first time. Kupalba also denied the claims that the Russian Federation deployed the Maykop Bridage along Ochamchira, a region near to the border. "The Abkhazian territory does not host any troops of the Russian Federation; there are only troops of the CIS peace force deployed across the country," he said.

The CIS officials also denied the claim of the Rustavi-2 television channel, accusing the Georgian news media of attempting to rising the tension across the conflict region.

04.27.2008  Agency Caucasus

Tbilisi, The arguments that Georgia developed against Russia after it spy plane was shot down while it was flying over Abkhazia received solid support from Robert Simmons, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the NATO, or North Atlantic Treaty Organization, for the Central Asia and the South Caucasus.

Simmons met in Tbilisi, capital of Georgia, with Temur Yakobashvili, a senior Georgian official ministering a governmental unit that had been established shortly before Georgia made it public that it would regain its control over Abkhazia and South Ossetia. "However provocative Russia might be, Georgia should retain its peaceful approach," Simmons told reporters.

Simmons accorded special emphasis to the proposal from Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili to offer Abkhazia and South Ossetia, two 'de facto' independent countries that seek true, international recognition of their independence, an extended version of autonomy as a peaceful solution to the trouble between Abkhazia and South Ossetia on the one hand and Georgia on the other: "Georgia's offer to supply extended autonomy is evidence that Georgia adopts a peaceful approach."

However, Simmons did not make an evaluation of Georgia's attempts to fly its spy planes over Abkhazia.

When Simmons met with Georgia's Deputy Foreign Minister Nikoloz Vajakidze, their topic of discussion was Georgia's will to join the NATO. Vajakidze said that his meeting with Simmons was a significant step forward toward Georgia's full membership into the NATO.

Support that came from the international community to Georgia after its unmanned scouting planes were shot down has also been significant to notice, Vajakidze said.

04.26.2008  Agency Caucasus

Sukhum, Security Council of the United Nations, or UN, heard a complaint from Abkhazia soon after it had to summon an exclusive session on a charge from Georgia against Russia for shooting down its spy plane.

Sergei Shamba, Foreign Minister of Abkhazia, wrote a formal letter to the president as well as to the members of the UN Security Council to condemn Georgia for its provocative attempts to fly its spy planes over the air space of Abkhazia.

"With respect to an application from the Georgian administration to get the incident that occurred on April 20 in the conflict region to be dealt with at Security Council level, we now think that it is high time to consider condemning Georgia for its relentless provocations, because such provocations cause the tension to mount continuously," Shamba wrote. He further asked the Security Council to handle Georgia's continuous deployment of its troops in Kodor despite the UN decisions as well as its past agreements not to do so.

Shamba's letter appeared to be a reminder of the facts that neither those who had joined the 20 September 2007 attack on a camp of Abkhazian private soldiers were yet penalized nor the investigation into the kidnapping of David Sigua, a Gal border administration worker, was yet completed. The youth camp set up by the Georgian administration near the Abkhazian border was still there, Shamba wrote, despite a request from the UN to take it out of there. Added to all these violations was flights by Georgia's spy planes, Shamba wrote: "We applied several times to the UN Observation Mission in Georgia and to the UN Secretary-General Friendship Group with a warning that we were reserved the right  to ask necessary precautions to be taken."

When the first spy plane was shot down on March 18, Georgia refused to admit that it was a Georgian spy plane, wrote Shamba, and when the second spy plane was shot down on April 20, Georgia kept refusing to admit that it was also a Georgian spy plane: "All negotiation inter-mediators as well as the whole world was shocked at the obstinacy of the Georgian administration in denying the facts. Even after the March 18 incident, Georgia continued systematically to violate Abkhazia's air space and the Moscow Pact."

Shamba accused in his letter the Georgian administration of both trying to redeem itself after its violations of agreements by accusing the Russian Federation of trespassing Georgia's air space and of consciously misleading the UN and other negotiation inter-mediators.

Such actions clearly reveal Georgia's aggressive intent to attack Abkhazia sooner or later, wrote Shamba, and he asked Georgia to be condemned for its intervention in the UN negotiations between Abkhazia and itself.

04.25.2008  Agency Caucasus

Moscow, After Security Council of the United Nations (UN) was called on to act as a referee between the administrations of Tbilisi and Moscow over the shooting down of a Georgian spy plane, the Federation Council of Russian postponed its plans to deal with a plea from both Abkhazia and South Ossetia for their recognition.

Aleksandr Torshin, Deputy President of the Federation Council, upper chamber of the Russian parliament, said on Wednesday that neither at today's general assembly nor at the commission meeting over North Caucasus would the issue of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and their will to recognition be dealt with.

"For the time being, it was agreed that this issue should be analyzed only further," said Torshin.

After Kosovo declared its independence, both parliaments of Abkhazia and South Ossetia issued a joint call on the Russian administration to recognize them. The Duma, lower chamber of the Russian parliament, granted approval in the first place to the call of recognition, advising both the Russian government and the Kremlin to recognize the two 'de facto' independent republics. Vladimir Putin, Russia's President, however, chose to improve his country's economic, social, educational and scientific relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It seems like that Abkhazia and South Ossetia have to wait a bit longer to get their recognition.

04.25.2008  Agency Caucasus

Moscow, Russia's foreign minister said Friday Georgia's NATO membership will not solve its problems with Abkhazia and South Ossetia which are in far deeper crisis than relations between Moscow and Tbilisi.

Georgian-Russian ties hit a new low on Monday, when Georgia accused Russia of downing an unmanned reconnaissance drone in Georgian airspace. The move follows calls by Russian President Vladimir Putin for closer ties with the two regions, which has infuriated Georgia.

"I can see no crisis in Russian-Georgian relations, but we are witnessing an obvious crisis in relations between the Georgian leadership on one side and Abkhazia and South Ossetia on the other. The Georgian leadership is unable to maintain civil dialogue with Abkhazia and S. Ossetia and instead announces that NATO membership will solve all its problems, which is seriously aggravating the situation," Sergei Lavrov said during a news conference with his Finnish counterpart.

The two republics, which broke away from Georgia in 1991, have been a bone of contention between the ex-Soviet neighbors. Both have stepped up their calls for international recognition, following Kosovo's declaration of independence in February.

Georgia has been seeking NATO membership, backed by the U.S., ever since President Mikheil Saakashvili came to power in 2004 on the back of a bloodless revolution. At a NATO summit in early April, NATO powers voted against admitting Georgia to the alliance's Membership Plan, but said they would review the bid at the end of the year.

The Russian minister said he hoped that those who were "unnaturally" pushing Georgia towards NATO were aware that Tbilisi has refused to sign documents, proposed by the Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe and the UN, renouncing the use of force in conflict resolution with Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

"I want to hear these people react to statements by Georgian leaders that unmanned aircraft have flown and will continue to fly over the conflict zone in Abkhazia," Lavrov said.

Georgia claims that a Russian MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter from the Gudauta military base in Abkhazia, where Russian peacekeepers have been stationed since the end of a bloody conflict in the early 1990s, on Sunday shot down a Georgian drone.

Abkhazia claimed responsibility for the downing of the aircraft. Russia's Air Force has dismissed Georgia's allegations.

Viktor Dolidze, Georgia's envoy to the OSCE, said live on Rustavi-2 TV on Friday that the organization's Permanent Council had decided to send an international group of military experts to investigate the incident.

"We raised the issue at a council meeting and demanded a thorough investigation because we consider the operation by the Russian MiG-29 an act of aggression against sovereign Georgia," the envoy said.

04.25.2008  RIA Novosti

Moscow, Georgia could use force in the near future over Abkhazia and South Ossetia as the May 21 parliamentary elections approach, a senior Russian Foreign Ministry official said on Friday.

Valery Kenyaikin, the Russian ambassador at large, said an outside enemy is needed to whip up support for the upcoming election campaign, and Abkhazia along with South Ossetia could fit the bill.

"The danger [of Georgia's military aggression] exists and could take place in the near future," the official told a news conference.

Kenyaikin said that the drone shot down over Abkhazia had a number of uses, including directing artillery fire.

Georgia claims that on Sunday a Russian MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter from the Gudauta military base in Abkhazia, where Russian peacekeepers have been stationed since the end of a bloody conflict in the early 1990s, shot down a Georgian drone.

Abkhazia claimed responsibility for the downing of the aircraft. Russia's Air Force has dismissed Georgia's allegations.

The high-ranking diplomat reiterated that Russia would do everything possible to protect the interests of Russian citizens living in Abkhazia and South Ossetia saying "In any case we will not leave our citizens in Abkhazia and South Ossetia in difficulty and this should be clearly understood."

The official went further to say that Russia could use military force to protect its nationals if Tbilisi provoked military conflict in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

"We will do everything possible to avert a military conflict. But if it is provoked, we will have to use military force," he said.

Sunday's downing of a Georgian surveillance drone is the latest dispute in the region, following Russian President Vladimir Putin's calls last week for closer ties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which has plunged relations between Moscow and Tbilisi to a new low.

The move provoked an angry response from Tbilisi with Georgia's foreign minister accusing Russia of attempting "to annex," Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which broke away from Georgia in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Georgia is desperate to retain control over the two republics.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia have stepped up their drive for self-rule since Kosovo's declaration of independence on February 17. Georgia's Abkhazia and South Ossetia, along with Moldova's Transdnestr, have since asked Russia's parliament, the UN and other organizations to recognize their independence.

04.25.2008  RIA Novosti

Washington/Moscow, Georgia failed to convince the UN Security Council in a closed-door session over Russia's alleged aggression towards Tbilisi following a row over the downing of a surveillance drone by a Russian fighter.

Sunday's downing of a Georgian surveillance drone is the latest dispute in the region, following Russian President Vladimir Putin's calls last week for closer ties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which has plunged relations between Moscow and Tbilisi to a new low.

The move provoked an angry response from Tbilisi with Georgia's foreign minister accusing Russia of attempting "to annex," Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which broke away from Georgia in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Georgia is desperate to retain control over the two republics.

However, after a UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday, Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze said Vyacheslav Kovalenko, Russia's ambassador to Georgia, would not be summoned to the ministry on Thursday as planned.

The ministry apparently intended to propose Russia and Georgia exchange radar data to clarify all the circumstances of the incident.

The ambassador was initially summoned to the Georgian Foreign Ministry on Monday and given a protest note over Sunday's incident in Abkhazia.

Georgia claims that a Russian MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter from the Gudauta military base in Abkhazia shot down the Georgian drone, reportedly an Israeli-made Hermes 450.

The U.S. expressed its concern over the downing of the Georgian drone and in a statement U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said: "We reiterate our unwavering support for Georgian sovereignty and territorial integrity and are concerned by the presence of a MiG-29 aircraft in Georgian airspace."

McCormack urged both sides to find "a political solution" to the dispute.

Russia has repeatedly dismissed claims a Russian fighter was involved in the shooting down of the Georgian reconnaissance aircraft.

Russia's envoy to the UN Vitaly Churkin told journalists: "Abkhazia says that their air defenses shot it down, and our air force says that our planes were not flying in the area."

The diplomat said he regretted that Abkhazia had not been invited to attend the session and went on to say that strengthening ties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia was to develop economic links and was not "diplomatic recognition or international recognition of Abkhazia or South Ossetia."

In a joint statement after the UN Security Council meeting Wednesday evening, the United States, France, Germany and the U.K., called on Russia "to revoke or not to implement its decision" for closer ties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

In response, Russia's envoy to the UN Vitaly Churkin said the request was a "tall order," however, and added "I think that they themselves understand that this not something which is going to happen."

04.24.2008  RIA Novosti

New York, The UN Security Council will hold a closed meeting Wednesday at 20:00 GMT on the situation in the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict zone, Vitaly Churkin, Russia's ambassador to the UN said.

The latest dispute over the province, one of two regions that Tbilisi says Russia is trying to annex, was fueled on Monday when Georgia accused Russia of shooting down an unmanned reconnaissance plane in Georgian airspace. Russia's Air Force has denied the allegation.

Churkin told reporters in New York earlier: "I can assure you that at this meeting we will have a thing or two to say about the latest unconstructive and at times provocative actions of the Georgian side."

The meeting of the Security Council, on which Russia holds a permanent seat, was requested last week by Georgia's Foreign Minister David Bakradze, who said Russian plans granting legal status to companies in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and for closer cooperation with their governments were "an attempt to annex two Georgian regions."

Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Saakashvili during a phone conversation Monday that the planned measures were not in contravention of international law and are aimed at improving the socioeconomic situation in the region.

Putin also said Georgian reconnaissance flights over Abkhazia run counter to a 1994 ceasefire agreement.

Russia's ambassador to Georgia was summoned to the Georgian Foreign Ministry and given a protest note over Sunday's incident in Abkhazia. Georgia claims that a Russian MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter from the Gudauta military base in Abkhazia shot down the Georgian drone, reportedly an Israeli-made Hermes 450.

Saakashvili said in a national TV broadcast Monday evening that the Georgian side had proof the incident took place.

"For the first time in the last few years, after repeated incidents of Russia violating Georgia's airspace and acts of aggression, we have video footage of a Russian attack aircraft bombing Georgian territory."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday Russia would clarify the situation over the downed drone.

"We expect that this time the meeting will carefully examine what is happening in this region, this is not the first time unmanned flights have taken place over the conflict zone, defined in the Moscow agreement and approved by the UN Security Council, where no one should be flying," he said.

The Haaretz newspaper said citing an unnamed source in Israel's security structures that Israel has confirmed the downed drone had been produced by the Israeli company Elbit Systems.

04.23.2008  RIA Novosti

Moscow, Russia's upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, is unlikely to recognize independence for Abkhazia and South Ossetia, a senior parliamentarian said on Tuesday.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia have stepped up their drive for self-rule 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 UN and other organizations to recognize their independence.

The official document recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia's independence was discussed by the State Duma, parliament's lower house, in March and is set to be considered by the Federation Council on April 25.

Vadim Gustov, the head of the Federation Council's Committee on the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, said the house could pass the document, but will not directly recognize ex-Soviet republics' independence.

"If Russia recognizes their independence point-blank, then the mandate for Russian peacekeepers deployed on their territories immediately becomes invalid," Gustov said adding that as soon as the Russian peacekeepers are withdrawn it could lead to armed conflict in the region.

Russia maintains peacekeepers in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Both republics broke away from Georgia after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Tbilisi accuses Moscow of backing separatism in the region and demands the replacement of the peacekeepers by an international force.

"Moreover, if we [Russia] now recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia, then we will be unable to criticize the United States and Europe for their actions regarding to Kosovo," he added.

Kosovo, with a 90% ethnic-Albanian majority, has been formally recognized as a sovereign state by 37 countries including the United States and most European Union members since it proclaimed its independence from Serbia on February 17.

04.22.2008  RIA Novosti

Sukhum, The president of Abkhazia accused Tbilisi during an annual parliamentary address Tuesday of trying to avoid resuming peace talks.

He said "Georgia is taking action depriving Abkhazia of a possibility to participate in the negotiating process, including attempts to maintain a regime of sanctions against the republic, obstructing any measures for Abkhazia's social-economic and humanitarian development and using special reconnaissance flights."

Georgia reacted furiously to Russia's announcement Wednesday that it plans to strengthen ties with South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which borders on Russia and broke away from Georgia in conflicts following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Georgia is seeking to regain control of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The United Nations Security Council scheduled a meeting at Georgia's request for Wednesday to discuss the row between the two countries and Tbilisi's claims of Russian "aggression" over Abkhazia.

The latest dispute in the province, one of two regions that Tbilisi claims Russia is trying to annex, was fueled on Monday when Georgia said a Russian fighter shot down an unmanned reconnaissance plane over Georgian airspace. Russia's Air Force has denied the allegations.

Bagapsh also said the recognition of Kosovo by the international community should pave the way for the recognition of Abkhazia.

"Having recognized Kosovo, the international community turned a new page in history which should contain a place for an independent state of Abkhazia too," the Abkhaz leader said.

Bagapsh said it was a precedent. "The recognition of the [Kosovo] territory completed Yugoslavia's disintegration, and the recognition of independence for Abkhazia and other self-determined states will legally conclude the breakup of the U.S.S.R.," he said.

04.22.2008  RIA Novosti

Permanent representative of Abkhazia in the Gal region Ruslan Kishmaria has rebuffed statement of Georgian officials about Abkhazian republic's bringing additional armed forces to the Kodor gorge. In an interview to a REGNUM correspondent, he called the information “absolutely absurd.”

“There is no boosting of the Abkhazian contingent in the conflict zone,” he stressed.

On April 19, 2008, Georgia's state minister for re-integration Temur Yakobashvili stated that “concentration of Abkhazian forces is being observed” in the Gal region and lower Kodor gorge. Tbilisi alleged that the action of Sukhum was connected to the recent Russia's statements about strengthening ties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Earlier, Abkhazian authorities blamed Georgia of bringing additional army and police units to upper Kodori gorge.

04.21.2008  REGNUM

The relations of Georgia and Russia that had just made a few reconciliatory moves towards Tbilisi aggravated anew. Abkhazia announced they shot down a spying pilotless plane of Georgian Air Force past weekend.

The situation on Georgia-Abkhazia’s border heated up past weekend. Having noticed active deployment of military, President of Abkhazia Sergei Bagapsh summoned up Gen Niyaz Khan Khattak, who heads the mission of U.N. military observers in the conflict area, and Ivo Petrov, deputy chief of U.N. secretary-general’s envoy in Georgia, and demanded to withdraw all Georgia’s troops from the regions of Georgia that are adjacent to the unrecognized republic.

Early on Saturday, Abkhazia’s troops moved to the boundary Ingur river and stopped on border of 12km security zone controlled by Russia’s peacekeepers.

Tbilisi said it was the scheduled rotation of police contingent stationed in Kodor Gorge and that Georgia had no intention to fight with Abkhazia. Abkhazia was urged not to respond to provocation.

But a spying unmanned jet was shot down in the Gal region at around 10 a.m. yesterday, Chief of Abkhazia’s General Staff Anatoly Zaitsev announced yesterday afternoon, specifying that the jet could have reached that area only from Georgia. The comments of Bagapsh on the incident were openly hawkish. The plane was shot and we won’t tolerate violation of our airspace by Georgia’s military planes in future, the president warned.

Official Tbilisi denies any links to the spying aircraft.

04.21.2008  Kommersant

Ministry of defense of Abkhazia calls on leadership of the UN Observer Mission in Georgia and Joint Peacekeeping Forces to prevent Georgia from using airspace of the Abkhazian republic for both reconnaissanse and civil flights, REGNUM correspondent quotes deputy minister of defense of Abkhazia, state secretary Garry Kupalba to state.

From early April, the Georgian side has launched a series of regular violations of Abkhazia's airspace. Both reconnaissanse and military aircraft of the Georgia's air force started to fly over the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict's security zone, the official informed.

According to Kupalba, on April 16, 2008, four military aricraft and an unmanned plane were observed above the city of Gal. He said that on April 20, an unmanned aircraft for yet another time violated Abkhazia's airspace, flying over Gal and Ochamchira regions. It was shot down over the Gagida settlement by the Abkhazian side.

“Abkhazian ministry of defense is warning again that it will continue by all necessary means preventing violations of the republic's airspace,” Kupalba stated.

04.21.2008  REGNUM

Tbilisi, Abkhazia ahs deployed additional armed groups in the Gal district and the lower part of the Kodor Gorge, Georgian State Minister for Reintegration Temuri Yakobashvili said on Saturday.

In his words, “There has been a serious increase in the concentration of Abkhazian armed groups in the Gal district and the lower part of the Kodor Gorge.”

“We urge the Abkhazian side to withdraw these groups and confirm again that the Georgian side will not give in to any provocations and adventures,” the minister said.

“Georgian authorities have no plans to undertake any forcible actions in the conflict zone,” he said.

“The Georgian side has not deployed any additional armed units either in the upper part of the Kodor Gorge or the Zugdidi district. This can be confirmed by representatives of the U.N. Military Observer Mission there,” Yakobashvili said.

“The Georgian side remains adherent to the peaceful resolution of the Abkhazian and South Ossetian conflicts,” he added.

04.19.2008  Itar-Tass

Georgia, an ex-Soviet republic in the Caucasus, demanded Thursday that Russia cancel its recent decisions to support Abkhazia and South Ossetia. President Mikheil Saakashvili said he had "Western support" on the issue.

Moscow, in turn, has started voicing the idea that it might have to make the "hard" decision to recognize the self-proclaimed states' independence as early as next spring.

Georgy Khukhashvili, a Tbilisi political analyst, said he had the impression that Russia was the one to benefit the most from the Kovoso precedent. "Moscow has been very clear with us: if Georgia wishes to join NATO, good riddance, only it should leave Abkhazia and South Ossetia behind," he said.

"The West has almost run out of resources which could help it prevent this course of developments, and Georgia's further disintegration might become irreversible," the analyst went on to say. At this stage, Moscow may well make Georgia face a choice between integrating with Russia instead of Europe or losing part of its territory.

Akaky Asatiani, leader of the opposition Union of Georgian Traditionalists, said Russia was clearly building on the Kosovo experience. "But Saakashvili shouldn't fuel anti-Russian sentiment either. He is the one to blame. He has uttered nothing but threats with regard to Abkhazia and South Ossetia for the past four years," he added.

He also said what Georgia should do is "sit down together with Russia and talk openly: we'll agree to consider neutrality in exchange for a restitution of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. A barter deal, crude but effective. The West won't help us get the territories back!"

"Saakashvili has had enough time to try and normalize relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia during his first tenure," echoes Alexei Ostrovsky, head of the Russian parliamentary committee on CIS affairs. "However, he opted for ordering occasional armed operations against them, which obviously exacerbated tensions and provoked Russia into more active protection of its nationals living in the self-proclaimed republics," he said.

Deputy speaker of Russia's State Duma, Yury Volkov, said that Russia should recognize the two republics' independence no later than next spring because the 60th anniversary NATO summit is slated for spring 2009, and it will focus, among other things, on the future of Georgia and Ukraine.

"Since those countries' governments are unlikely to abandon their plans to get under NATO's 'umbrella,' Russia will either have to put up with mushrooming NATO bases along its border and with certain post-Soviet republics acceding to unfriendly regimes, or to try and curb that dangerous chance," he said, however admitting that to recognize Abkhazia's and South Ossetia's independence would be a "hard" decision for Russia.

04.18.2008  RIA Novosti

Tbilisi, Georgian Foreign Minister David Bakradze condemned Russia’s support to breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

He described it as “an attempt to legalise the process of annexation of these two regions of Georgia from Russia”.

“These actions by Russia contradict the norms of international law,” Bakradze told journalists after a meeting of the Georgian Security Council that was chaired by Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.

“Georgia is using all diplomatic, political and legal levers to suspend the annexation by Russia of the Abkhazian and Tskhinvali regions of Georgia,” the minister said.

Bakradze made the statement in reply to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s report that Russian President Vladimir Putin had instructed the government to provide more substantive aid to Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said fulfilment of the instructions would “create mechanisms of comprehensive protection of the rights, freedoms and lawful interests of Russian citizens, who live in those republics”.

The instructions provide for the development of cooperation with the existing authorities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, including cooperation in the trade, economic, social, scientific and technical spheres, in the sphere of information, culture and education, the ministry said.

“The Russian authorities will make a list of documents, issued to natural persons by the existing bodies of power in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which are to be recognised in Russia. Russia will recognise the legal personality of the legal entities registered in accordance with legislation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which is regarded as a special law for such legal entities.”

04.16.2008  Itar-Tass

Tbilisi, The Georgian Security Council convened on Wednesday to discuss Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statement on more substantive aid to Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The Security Council met at Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili’s working residence, Tbilisi television channels quoted government sources as saying.

No official comments regarding the meeting have been made yet. They are expected to follow shortly.

Earlier, the foreign minister of the republic of Abkhazia, Sergei Shamba, said Putin’s instructions in respect to Abkhazia and South Ossetia would lead to “a breakthrough” in the resolution of economic and social questions as well as security issues.

“This is a result of painstaking work on both sides, the leadership of Abkhazia and Russia, aimed at integration,” Shamba said.

“Citizenship that Russia has started granting to citizens of Abkhazia since 2003 was also a breakthrough that created the basis that influenced the resolution of other issues,” he added.

In his words, citizens of Russia should enjoy all privileges, including social ones, and security guarantees provided by the Constitution.

“Russia is undertaking increasingly decisive and open steps, and its hands are free after Kosovo,” the foreign minister said.

“Putin’s instructions presuppose the recognition of our documents, and this is an important factor. Basically, one last step is left towards the recognition of our independence. And recognition is a long process. We have always said that and we are prepared for that. It’s just that the Kosovo precedent slightly accelerates this process,” Shamba said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said fulfilment of the instructions would “create mechanisms of comprehensive protection of the rights, freedoms and lawful interests of Russian citizens, who live in those republics”.

The instructions provide for the development of cooperation with the existing authorities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, including cooperation in the trade, economic, social, scientific and technical spheres, in the sphere of information, culture and education, the ministry said.

04.16.2008  Itar-Tass

Sukhum, South Ossetia opened an embassy on Tuesday in the capital of the republic of Abkhazia.

The ceremony took place in Sukhum, and was attended by South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity on an official visit at the invitation of Abkhaz President Sergei Bagapsh. The foreign ministers of the two republics, Sergei Shamba and Murad Dzhioyev, also attended the opening ceremony.

"The embassy's work will add dynamism to bilateral cooperation between Abkhazia and South Ossetia," Bagapsh said.

"The two republics have common tasks - to gain independence," the president of South Ossetia said in turn. "We have matured, we are evolving, and we do not have to be led by the arm, like Kosovo."

The custom service and chamber of commerce and industry of both states also signed cooperation agreements during the visit.

04.15.2008  RIA Novosti

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili held an unscheduled meeting of the Georgian National Security Council on Saturday to initiate the development of a new set of measures for the settlement of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict. According to a source in the Georgian presidential press service, the president's plan includes broad autonomy for the territory, its right to veto federal decision concerning it, the reservation of a vice president's post for a representative of Abkhazia, protection for the Abkhazian language and culture and the formation of joint Georgian-Abkhazian monitoring in the conflict zone.

In addition to those proposals, which are not new, the president proposed a number of economic incentives. They include economic free zones in the Ochamchira and Gal districts and “maximally full customs autonomy in the Abkhazia region.” The Georgian Ministry of Economic Development told Kommersant that that implied leaving almost all customs duties and taxes collected in the regional budget. The new proposals are in essence a response to Moscow's joint efforts with Sukhum to integrate Abkhazia into the Russian economic and social system.

In Sukhum, response to the new Georgian plan was cool. “Sukhum will not consider Tbilisi's proposal for broad autonomy,” Abkhazian Foreign Minister Sergey Shamba told Kommersant. He said that “Georgia's fulfillment of all the obligations it has taken on, first of all the withdrawal of forces from Kodor Gorge” is a condition for negotiations with Tbilisi.

Observers suggest that the new proposals are not so much intended to renew a dialog with Sukhum as to they are part of preparations to receive a NATO Membership Action Plan meant to show Georgia's peaceful intentions for the settlement of the conflict. They also see a veiled threat in the proposal to form a Georgian-Abkhazian monitoring force: If no compromise is found, Georgia may demand the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from the conflict zone.

04.15.2008  Kommersant

Sukhum, Abkhazia will never agree to “any broad autonomy status as part of Georgia, and the Georgian authorities may spare themselves the trouble of creating various commissions for drafting ‘concrete proposals,” said Sergei Bagapsh, president of the Republic of Abkhazia, commenting in an interview with Itar-Tass on the decision of the Georgian authorities to work out “domestic and international guarantees of a broad autonomy for Abkhazia as part of Georgia,” and “to draft within a few weeks concrete proposals on the issue and on the problem of the creation of a free economic zone in the Ochamchira and Gal Districts.”

According to Bagapsh, there is nothing new in the statement of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili on the intention to grant a broad autonomy to Abkhazia, because Georgian leaders regularly make such promises. Bagapsh stressed that “Abkhazia is building an independent state. It was the decision of our people, who voted for it almost unanimously at the referendum, held in October 1999.”

Bagapsh said again that the Abkhazian leaders would start talks with Tbilisi only after Georgia withdrew its troops from the upper part of the Kodor Gorge and signed a treaty on the non-use of force and the non-resumption of a war. “Only after that will Abkhazia be willing to establish relations with Georgia on equal terms, as a neighbour country,” Bagapsh stressed. “Any political bargaining on the problem is out of the question.”

According to Bagapsh, the Abkhazian leaders are not going to deviate from the route, chosen by the people and recorded in the Abkhazian Constitution.

04.14.2008  Itar-Tass

New York, The UN Security Council will hold consultations on Monday to discuss the situation in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict zone.

The discussion will be held to discuss extending the mandate on the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG), which expires on Tuesday. The Security Council members will also discuss a recent report by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, delivered on April 4.

In his report, the Secretary General recommended that the peacekeeping mandate be extended for another six months, until October 15. He also expressed hopes that peace talks between Georgia and Abkhazia will resume.

"A period of sustained stability along the ceasefire line and in the Kodor Valley would improve the prospect of repairing the much deteriorated relationship between the two sides," the report says.

During his visit to Moscow last week, Ban Ki-moon told journalists that the international organization would continue its efforts to ease tensions between Georgia and Abkhazia.

Peacekeeping in the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict zone is currently carried out by a collective CIS force made up of Russian service personnel.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has repeatedly called for changes to be made to the peacekeeping arrangement in the country's conflict zone with Abkhazia, and asked for the peacekeepers to be replaced by an international force. The Georgian leader said Russia is not a mediator in the conflict, but is a party to the conflict.

Abkhazia broke away from Georgia after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Tbilisi accuses Moscow of backing separatism in the region, but Moscow dismisses the accusations.

04.14.2008  RIA Novosti

Sukhum, Republic of Abkhazia has rejected again Tbilisi's proposal of broad autonomy, the Abkhaz interior minister said on Sunday.

Georgia is seeking to regain control of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which proclaimed independence following the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili instructed the government on Saturday to work out a plan for the implementation of his initiatives aimed at granting Abkhazia broad autonomy and establishing a free economic zone in the separatist province.

"Georgia can discuss any issues. The position of Abkhazia has been announced on many occasions. We are not going ever to discuss this issue [broad autonomy]," Sergei Shamba said.

Saakashvili first offered Abkhazia unlimited autonomy and the post of a vice-premier for the Abkhaz leader in his March 28 speech. Abkhaz President Sergei Bagapsh rejected the Georgian leader's initiative the following day.

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.

04.13.2008  RIA Novosti

Tbilisi, Russia has a great potential for the constructive participation in a peaceful settlement of the Abkhazian and South Ossetian conflicts, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said at his meeting with the government on Saturday.

“Georgian authorities are very seriously set for the activation of the peacekeeping process and settlement of these conflicts. We much hope that Russia will join this process and actively play a constructive role,” he said.

“If the Russian leadership has the wish and political will, it can play a very positive role in the process of a peaceful settlement of the Abkhazian and South Ossetian conflicts. We will welcome the active role of Russia in settlement of these conflicts,” Saakashvilii said.

04.12.2008  Itar-Tass

During 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.

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 Ingur River.

MN: Is there any possibility for Sukhum 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!

04.10.2008  Moscow News,№14 2008

Moscow, The status of peacekeepers in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict zone should not be changed without the agreement of all parties involved, Russia's Foreign Minister said on Thursday.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has repeatedly called for changes to be made to the peacekeeping arrangement in the country's conflict zone with breakaway Abkhazia, and asked other countries to contribute. The Georgian leader said Russia is not a mediator in the conflict, but is a party to the conflict.

"As for the new proposals, [...] the most important thing is that they lead to an agreement between the sides," Sergei Lavrov said at a news conference after talks with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Lavrov added that the initiatives should be aimed at forging an agreement, not "to justify a reluctance to comply with previously agreed accords."

In his turn, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon told journalists that the international organization would continue its efforts to ease tensions between Georgia and its breakaway republic of Abkhazia.

He added that the situation in Georgia would be discussed by the UN Security Council on April 14.

Russia maintains peacekeepers in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Both republics broke away from Georgia after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Tbilisi accuses Moscow of backing separatism in the region and demands the replacement of the peacekeepers by an international force. Moscow dismisses the accusations and says the withdrawal of its troops could trigger new bloodshed.

04.10.2008  RIA Novosti

The 2014 Winter Olympic Games are bringing greater commercial and industrial development to an increasingly open Abkhazia.

Abkhazia expects at least USD 300 million of Russian investments as a result of the region’s involvement in preparations for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games, Sergey Bagapsh, the Abkhaz leader, said.

“In Tquarchal, for example, a cement producing plant will be built; a tender has already been announced,” Interfax news agency quoted Bagapsh as saying on April 8. “It will attract about USD 180 million investments. Another one will be built in Ochamchira, near the port. I think we will attract a total of USD 300-350 million investments.”

He did not rule out resumption of operation of the Sukhum airport and also said that the Abkhaz side planned to increase capacity of the border-crossing point with Russia.

04.09.2008  UNPO

Sukhum, Changes to the political parties act of Abkhazia have recently come under considerable discussion two years ahead of the presidential elections.

A draft was introduced by the parliament commission to the People's Assembly of Abkhazia for discussion largely about amendment of the political parties act simultaneously with the elections act, a choice between the bipartite and multiparty systems, assurance of gender equality, conditions that apply to the way parties are founded.

The political parties act was to be taken seriously, said Natella Akaba, Secretary of the People's Assembly, "because we know from the 2005 presidential elections that it can be quite turbulent; therefore, we have to take a far more careful approach to the next elections that will be taken in 2010. As a member of the assemblage of democratic countries, Abkhazia must have a new act that will regulate its political diversity."

"The society should have a clear understanding of the goal behind having a two-party or multiparty system. To a certain degree, this is the thing on which it depends to specify the future of the Abkhazian system of political parties as well as of elections. The draft bill should attach importance to sexual equality, as well. Abkhazia should study the way women around the world were given equal opportunities to participate in the political life. However, the bill should be drafted in an authentically Abkhazian way. The political parties act of a country must not be copied from abroad."

Batal Tabagua, Chair of the Central Elections Committee of Abkhazia, said that work with the political parties act should be carried out along with the modification of the electoral system.

Dmitri Shamba, Acting Secretary General of the President, spoke about the points in the draft bill that contradicted the election law. "The parts of the election law that deal with the registration of a political party and of its regional branches, its financial source(s), and donations to it are contradictory. In Abkhazia, the minimum number of members should be reduced to 1000 from 1500 to set up a political party."

Manana Gurguliya, Director of the state-owned news agency Apsnypress, suggested that the draft bill should be made available in the news media for public evaluation: "The survival of a political party should be determined by its competency."

Abkhazia has 13 officially registered political parties: Aidgylara (Unity), The Movement by Abkhazian Mothers for Social Justice and Peace, the Russian Congress of Assembly, the Abkhazian Communist Party, the Abkhazian People's Party, Aytayra (Re-birth), Amtsakhara, the Apsny Republic Party, the United Abkhazian Movement, the Abkhazian Social-Democratic Party, Aiaira (Victory), the Abkhazian Forum of National Unity, and the Abkhazian Economic Development Party.

04.08.2008  Agency Caucasus

UN / New York, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said that the Russian-led peacekeeping contingent in Abkhazia should secure the support of all parties involved in the "frozen" conflict.

"I know the position of the Georgian government vis-a-vis the CIS peacekeeping operation," Ban Ki-moon said in a RIA Novosti interview on Tuesday ahead of his visit to Moscow on April 9-11. "And it would be very important for any peacekeeping operations to gain the support and confidence of all the parties concerned."

Russia maintains peacekeepers in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Both republics broke away from Georgia after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Tbilisi accuses Moscow of backing separatism in the region and demands the replacement of the peacekeepers by an international force. Moscow dismisses the accusations and says the withdrawal of its troops could trigger new bloodshed.

"This is a sensitive issue," Ban Ki-moon said. "My major primary concern is first of all to assist the peaceful resolution and also help these internally displaced persons and provide humanitarian assistance and protect human rights."

Russia's parliament passed a resolution last month urging the Kremlin to consider Abkhazia and South Ossetia's pleas for recognition. The move came as Georgia was taking ultimately unsuccessful steps to join a program which would put it on track to join NATO. Tbilisi slammed the resolution as "blatant interference" in its domestic affairs.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia also appealed to the UN for recognition.

Moscow has repeatedly said that Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia on February 17 could set a precedent for secessionist-minded regions throughout the world, including in former Soviet states.

In Moscow, Ban Ki-moon will meet with outgoing President Vladimir Putin, president-elect Dmitry Medvedev, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other officials.

One of the topics set to be on the agenda of his Moscow visit is Russia's request for a greater representation in the organization's key bodies to reflect the country's growing role on the world stage, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin.

"I am aware of such wishes of the Russian government that more Russians be represented and work in the UN system. I would expect that Russia propose some very good candidates for the posts," Ban Ki-moon said.

In the interview, Ban Ki-moon also reaffirmed the UN's role as "a leading force to bring peace, security and development and protecting human rights all throughout the world," but acknowledged the need for reform to make the organization more efficient and transparent.

04.08.2008  RIA Novosti

Georgia’s President Mikhail Saakhashvili lashed out at the recent address of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to the leaders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. And Tbilisi had solid grounds for agitation – implementation of Sukhum proposals by Russia could be viewed as the first step en route of the economic integration of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In essence, it will be Moscow’s response to the NATO summit in Bucharest.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced sending the respective addresses to Abkhazia’s President Sergei Bagapsh and South Ossetia’s President Eduard Kokoity on April 3. People in the ministry, specified that it was the response to letters of the leaders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which manifested their apprehension about the political course of Tbilisi and its efforts to become the NATO member.

Putin said Russia was well-aware of Tbilisi’s course aimed at destabilizing the situation by using threats and force “with active appeal to the extra-regional states and organizations.” The implication is explicit – Putin evidently meant Georgia’s moves towards NATO and desire to replace Russia’s peacekeepers by international contingent. Moscow would back up Abkhazia and South Ossetia “not declaratively but in deed,” the president pledged.

Georgia’s President Mikhail Saakashvili called this move of Moscow unreasonable, unacceptable and dangerous. Georgia was stripped off the choice – we are heading for NATO, Saakashvili vowed.

According to Abkhazia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba, they have already elaborated specific proposals that could follow the recent lifting of economic sanctions against Sukhum. “These proposals cover a wide range of economic and legal issues that we could decide in the first instance.” The sources say the banking cooperation will be one of priorities. Sukhum suggests opening a correspondent account of the National Bank of Abkhazia with the Sochi branch of the the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) and authorizing CBR to provide soft loans to Abkhazia’s bank.

Other proposals include settlement of all customs and tax issues, revival of traffic links between Russia and Abkhazia, including direct railway traffic and postal links, establishment of Russia’s diplomatic representative office in Abkhazia and so on. The RF Security Council will consider the proposals in the near term.

04.07.2008  Kommersant

A leading human rights activist in the North Caucaus says that there is no conflict between the right to self-determination and the principle of territorial integrity of states. Any attempt to link the two and make them mutually exclusive is a smokescreen that twists the real facts of the issue. A Transdniestria-based expert agrees with this interpretation of international law.

Nalchik, There is no conflict between the right to self-determination and the principle of territorial integrity, says the head of of Kabardino-Balkaria's Human Rights Center. According to Valeri Khatazhukov, self-determination is a basic human right. The principle of territorial integrity of a country was not established to prevent this human right from being exercised, but rather to prevent existing countries from invading and annexing parts of other countries.

" - Some see contradictions between international principles of self-determination and preservation of territorial integrity of states. As a matter of fact, there are no contradictions. The principle of self-determination is consistently recognized in the provisions of international organizations, first of all, in the Charter of the United Nations. It is even possible to say that it prevails. The territorial integrity of Georgia can only be violated if Abkhazia or South Ossetia were to join Russia, i.e., if they were annexed," explains Valeri Khatazhukov.

Valeri Khatazhukov welcomed the recent statement by Russia's Lower House of Parliament, the Duma, which supports the striving of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transdniestria towards internationally recognition of their independence.

Transdniestria, which is also known under names such as Transnistria or Trans-Dniester, was already part of the USSR as an autonomous republic with Tiraspol as its capital. This lasted until 1940, when Joseph Stalin annexed Moldova to it under a secret agreement made with Hitler, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, and moved the capital to Chisinau. For the next fifty years, the two were forced together inside the USSR until Moldova publicly renounced the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact as being "null and void ab initio" (without validity from the outset) and broke away from the USSR, citing the Pacts lack of legal validity. In the process, it tried to take Transdniestria with it, but the largely non-Moldovan population of Transdniestria resisted because it had never been part of Moldova before.

Abkhazia had a somewhat similar status, having once joined the USSR as an independent republic. Later, Joseph Stalin annexed it to Georgia. "Today, when the USSR is extinct, Abkhazia has no formal grounds to the return of this status," says Khatazhukov, adding that Stalin is long dead and buried and that Abkhazia would have been a part of Georgia if it wasn't for the actions of Stalin, who was born in Georgia.

" - For the last 15 years, Abkhazia has proved that it has all the normally-functioning organizations of an independent state," Valeri Khatazhukov said.

Territorial integrity "not supposed to be a brake on human rights"

The findings of the Kabardino-Balkaria Human Rights Center were welcomed in Transdniestria (officially: Pridnestrovie) as the new and emerging country enters its 18th year of 'de facto' independence.

" - I completely agree with Khatazhukov," says Marius Oroveanu, a freelancer for The Tiraspol Times & Weekly Review who has done research on the issue.

" - Territorial integrity had to be protected after the experiences of World War II, where countries like Germany and the Soviet Union would invade others and annex them. It was for this reason that international law developed the principle of territorial integrity," says Oroveanu. "If you look at the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, which was when the whole 'territorial integrity' fervor reached its pinnacle, you can see that it was almost meant to act as a brake preventing countries from going to war with each other over land."

" - But it was never supposed to be a brake on basic human rights, such as those to self-determination which the UN Charter guarantees. This is a rather novel interpretation which has been twisted by countries later, for instance Moldova, to suit its own purposes. They try to read something into the whole territorial integrity thing which was never there to begin with," believes Marius Oroveanu, an ethnic Moldovan who lives in Rybnitsa, Transdniestria's third largest city.

The case of Moldova is made somewhat special by the fact that today's Moldova only came into being as an independent country in 1991. One year earlier, in 1990, Transdniestria had already declared independence. By the time Moldova declared independence, Transdniestria had already existed on its own for a year.

In the past, Transdniestria was never part of any sovereign Moldovan or Romanian state at any time in history. A historically and linguistically different area, Transdniestria also has an ethnic markup which is different from Moldova's: In Transdniestria, Moldovans are in the minority and ethnic Slavs make up the majority. In Moldova, the opposite is true.

04.07.2008  The Tiraspol Times

Russia's President says Russia will provide all necessary support and assistance to the republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Vladimir Putin also warns Georgia against trying to conquer the two states with military attacks. Along with Transdniestria, they are now seeking international recognition of their independence.

Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia will provide all necessary support and assistance to the republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, two unrecognized countries whose territory is claimed by the Republic of Georgia.

In the midst of a heavy military build-up, Georgia is seeking to regain control of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which proclaimed independence after the break up of the Soviet Union in 1991. Georgia, which lost control of Abkhazia more than fifteen years ago, accuses Moscow of interfering in its internal affairs.

" - The Russian president stressed that Russia is not unsympathetic to the aspirations and problems of the two republics, where many Russian nationals live," Russia’s foreign ministry quoted the president as saying in a formal statement which was released Thursday.

Official recognition of republic status

It is not the first time that an official Russian ministry applies the use of words like "republics" rather than the more neutral "regions" or "territories" in a formal statement. According to international law, Abkhazia and South Ossetia - just like Transdniestria - are already sovereign states since they currently meet the requirements for statehood: A permanent population, a defined territory and a government. International recognition is specifically not a requirement.

The official statement came after the presidents of the two unrecognized countries contacted Putin with their concerns over the "aggressive approach of the Georgian authorities handling the situation in the conflict zones, including the build-up of weapons and troops close to the borders of the republics”.

The Russian president said that Georgia’s attempts to resolve the situation by applying pressure on Abkhazia and South Ossetia are senseless.

" - Any attempts to apply political, economic or military pressure on Abkhazia and South Ossetia are futile and counterproductive," the ministry quoted Vladimir Putin as saying.

Appeal to the United Nations

Sergei Bagapsh, the president of Abkhazia, said in an interview with news agency RIA Novosti that Putin’s statement would "guarantee security for our republics."

Peacekeeping on Abkhazia's and South Ossetia's borders with Georgia is carried out by peacekeeping forces from the 11 member state CIS (Common Wealth of Independent States), with the oversight of the United Nations and the OSCE. The 56 member state OSCE also participates as a monitor of the peacekeeping operation on the border between Moldova and Transdniestria.

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.

These new and emerging countries have stepped up their drive for independence after Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence on 17 February. Partially recognized, Kosovo is now considered a sovereign state by almost 40 of the world's approximately 200 countries.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia, along with Transdniestria (Pridnestrovie, per its official name), have since asked Russia’s parliament, the United Nations and other international organizations to recognize their independence. Russia, while saying it is "not unsympathetic," has not yet offered formal diplomatic recognition.

04.07.2008  The Tiraspol Times

Moscow, Russia will provide all the necessary support and assistance to 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 republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia 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 both 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.

04.03.2008  RIA Novosti

Deliberating on Georgia’s membership in NATO at the summit of the alliance may have the most negative consequences for peace and security in Caucasus, Abkhazia’s President Sergei Bagapsh said in the letter addressed to NATO secretary-general on the eve of the Bucharest summit of the alliance held April 2 through April 4.

“The issue couldn’t be discussed with no regard to the opinion of Abkhazia, which has been steadily developing irrespective of Georgia over nearly 15 years, perceiving it only as a source of continuous military threat,” Bagapsh said in the letter, which copy is available to RIA Novosti.

Given that the situation in that country remains unstable and that it has a few unsettled conflicts, Bagapsh went on, nearing Georgia and NATO would be a great mistake. According to the president of unrecognized Abkhazia, Tbilisi views NATO as a lever to apply force to tackle the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Bagapsh urged NATO’s leadership to realize that “national interests and interests of foreign policy of Abkhazia differ from the ones of Georgia, taking it into consideration when deliberating on Georgia’s membership in NATO.”

Part of Georgian Republic in time of the Soviet Union, Abkhazia declared independence from it after the collapse of the USSR. Georgia responded by bringing troops to Abkhazia in August 1992, but only to face fierce opposition and suffer hefty losses there. The military conflict ended August 30, 1993 and Abkhazia has been seeking independence ever since.

04.02.2008  Kommersant

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