Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia: “The leadership of Abkhazia has no illusions” …

After the parliamentary elections in Georgia at which Saakashvili's regime suffered a crushing defeat, the politicians and experts amicably began to discuss what will be the relations of Georgia with Abkhazia. There were many statements from the Georgian party, they drew quite kind picture, but only under one indispensable condition: Abkhazia has to refuse the independence and in exchange will receive practically any possible status as a part of Georgia. We published the considerations in this respect of one of the most active ministers of the new government created by Bidzina Ivanishvili Paata Zakareishvili.

It was necessary to learn how the Abkhazian party will react to these statements. And the matter didn’t depend on it: the position of independent Abkhazia on all complex of the relations with Georgia was sounded in the republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Here is the full text of this comment:

- Citizens and the leadership of Abkhazia perceived quietly the coming to power in Georgia of the new government and the political changes caused by it in the country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia continues to analyze the internal political dynamics in the neighbouring country and after parliamentary elections. Let's note that the leadership of Abkhazia has no illusions relatively allegedly “new approaches” to the permission of the interstate conflict of Georgia and Abkhazia so strenuously advertised by again appointed ministers of the Georgian government. Whatever the promises were “deisolate Abkhazia”, to give us “everything, except recognition”, “to communicate with Abkhazians directly”, “to open the railway communication through Abkhazia”, so the purpose of the Georgian strategists is the one –to return Abkhazia to structure of Georgia by any way. We are too well informed not to get to various political and diplomatic traps which someone would like to place round Abkhazia.

In this respect there is a firm position of the leadership of Abkhazia. The Abkhazian party can be ready to discussion of a question of the agreements conclusion on force non-use with Georgia, but only in case of an acceptability of a political format of such negotiations.

We consider the Geneva discussions as the important forum for taking of a position of the Republic of Abkhazia to the international community. In particular, during the previous rounds of the Geneva discussions of the Abkhazian delegation, together with colleagues from Russia and South Ossetia, it managed to disprove the thesis about “the Russian occupation” of Abkhazia. Besides, the attention of the international partners was drawn to stirred-up subversive and terrorist activity of Georgia in the Gal area.
At the same time the existing format of the Geneva discussions doesn't suit us more. Abkhazia insists on change of a format of discussions with transition to representation at the level of delegations. Our position was sounded on the XXI round of the Geneva discussions in October, 2012, and we intend to continue to insist on format change on the subsequent rounds.

There is a wish to emphasize that the diplomatic work, the part of which is also participation in the Geneva discussions, not always can bring fast and obvious results to all. It is the laborious work creating conditions for positive changes. Therefore at an assessment of productivity of the Geneva discussions it is necessary to depart from the momentary and emotionally painted judgments and expectations.

Important strategic objective of foreign policy of Abkhazia is providing conditions for wide international recognition of independence of our country. In this regard the great value will have recognition of independence of Abkhazia by Georgia that will serve as some kind of start for broad international legalization of the independent status of Abkhazia. Recognition of Abkhazia by Georgia will serve the forming of strong system of regional security.

Therefore the myths extended by some citizens and judgments are absolutely groundless that recognition of independence of Abkhazia by Georgia can be so “dangerous” that it would be better to refuse it. As the sovereign, international and recognized state, Abkhazia will be able always to define itself the character and extent of the cooperation with neighbouring states, including the key parameters of the migratory policy. In other words, statements that after recognition of Tbilisi Abkhazia becomes absolutely open for economic, demographic, cultural influence by Georgia.

Even in spite of the fact that Georgia doesn't show the readiness yet to sign the agreement on non-use of force with the Republic of Abkhazia, the country leaders undertook necessary efforts for normalization of regime of functioning oа national boundary across the river Ingur. The Republic of Abkhazia is the sovereign state therefore it has to have fully equipped and protected border with all neighbouring states. Thanks to the built boundary and customs infrastructure the number of illegal crossings of the Georgian-Abkhazian border and smuggling volumes through it tend to considerable decrease. Introduction in operation of official check points means the strengthening of the general control of cross-border activity, and consequently strengthening of safety of the territory and the population of Abkhazia.

Let's emphasize also that how the interstate relations of the Russian Federation and Georgia changed, nothing threatens our strategic partnership with Russia. The Russian partners accurately adhere to the international agreements reached with the Republic of Abkhazia which have issued new political realities on South Caucasus.

The independent Republic of Abkhazia is an integral part of the new political map of the world. Sooner or later all international community should admit this fact.