From: MSN NicknameEagle_wng  (Original Message)    Sent: 7/6/2005 1:57 AM

Abkhazia: Georgia Pushes Policy of "Pro-Active Engagement"

2005-07-04
By Eric A. Miller

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili’s administration continues to probe for ways to restore its authority in Abkhazia. A top Georgian government official involved in the peace process says that Tbilisi is pursuing a policy of "pro-active engagement," aiming to create "new opportunities" for a negotiated solution.

The Saakashvili administration, which has made the restoration of the county’s territorial integrity a top policy priority, has said it will not resort to force as it strives to reestablish Tbilisi’s authority in Abkhazia. A United Nations-sponsored meeting in Geneva in early April brought together Georgian and Abkhaz representatives in an effort to reinforce the need for a negotiated settlement on the breakaway region’s political status. Abkhazia has operated beyond Tbilisi’s control since the end of the 1992-93 civil war. At the Geneva gathering, the two sides explored ways to build mutual confidence and foster economic cooperation.

In mid June, Georgian and Abkhaz representatives held talks in Moscow that aimed to restore rail links and promote the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Georgian officials said the June 15-16 discussions "created favorable conditions for further constructive negotiations," the Civil Georgia web site reported.

Abkhazia has long viewed Russia as its protector, and Georgian analysts widely view Moscow as obstructing peace talks because Georgia’s territorial reintegration would weaken Russia’s geopolitical position in the Caucasus. However, a tentative Georgian-Russian rapprochement, underscored by the recent base-withdrawal, could help spur discussions on an Abkhaz peace deal.

Despite the encouraging talks over railways and IDPs, Georgia and Abkhazia continue to squabble. On June 28, for example, Abkhaz leaders complained about a Georgian naval blockade. A Georgian Foreign Ministry statement issued the same day stated that Abkhazia’s territorial waters remained closed to unauthorized vessels. Abkhaz leaders said the Georgian statement was designed to discourage tourism, which provides a significant share of income for the breakaway region.

Tbilisi favors a political settlement that would allow for Abkhazia to enjoy broad self-governing powers. Abkhazia, however, has provided no sign that it is willing to re-submit to Tbilisi’s authority. In early April, for example, American diplomats visited the Abkhaz capital of Sukhumi for talks with regional leader Sergei Bagapsh. During those discussions, Bagapsh emphasized that the break-away territory would not abandon its demand for independence from Georgia.

Irakli Alasania is the chairman of Abkhazia’s government-in-exile and a special representative of the Georgian President for the Abkhazian conflict. During a recent visit to Washington, Alasania spoke to EurasiaNet about Tbilisi’s strategy for resolving the conflict. Alasania suggested that both the Georgian and Abkhazian people have become more receptive to new ideas concerning a political settlement. Abkhaz citizens also no longer view Russia as their republic’s sole security guarantor, he contended. While tentative progress is being made toward a settlement, Alasania added, a solution is unlikely in the near-term. The text of Alasania’s comments follows:

EurasiaNet