From: MSN NicknameEagle_wng (Original Message) Sent: 9/26/2005 12:48 AM
Abkhazia-Russia-Georgia
24.09.2005 - 00:46:38
By FIKRET ERTAN
Abkhazia, which seceded from Georgia 14 years ago and declared its independence, must have close ties with the Russian Federation in order to survive; there is no way out...
Abkhazia, which seceded from Georgia 14 years ago and declared its independence, must have close ties with the Russian Federation in order to survive; there is no way out, and that is why bilateral relations between these two countries are becoming closer and growing stronger.
Hence, the statements made by Abkhazian President Sergei Bagapsh during his visit to Moscow last week, conveyed the message that close and strong ties between his country and Russia will grow ever stronger and become ever closer.
Addressing journalists at several news conferences he held during his stay in Moscow, Bagapsh, who was elected last January despite Russia´s opposition, indicated that Abkhazia´s rapprochement with Russia was a general policy line, and he was also explicit about the legal, economic and political steps to be taken from now on.
According to Bagapsh, Abkhazia will continue to pursue the common partnership status with the Russian Federation (he highlighted that consultations on this issue are still under way), adapt its legal system and laws to that of Russia, reform its electoral legislation, issue Russian passports to all Abkhaz citizens within a year and make the current economic relations better.
The recent steps to be taken by Abkhazia towards greater rapprochement with Russia, undoubtedly imply that Abkhazia will begin integrating with Russia in many respects, if not now, within a reasonable timeframe.
As we have said, Abkhazia is taking these steps out of necessity.
Today, Abkhazia depends on Russia in many ways.
Eighty percent of Abkhaz citizens hold Russian passports in order to be able to travel and enjoy other rights.
This 80 percent will become 100 percent within a year.
Seventy percent of Abkhazia´s elderly population receive their pensions from the Russian Federation´s budget.
To leave Abkhazia, enter Abkhazia, export and import is only possible through Russia.
This is because Abkhazia is facing economic, communication and transportation sanctions.
That is why a Turkish ship which was transporting goods to the Abkhaz capital, Sukhum, was intercepted and seized by Georgian coastguards.
This is the most recent example of the sanctions, many similar incidents have happened in the past.
All these compel Abkhazia to seek rapprochement with Russia, and Bagapsh expresses it quite explicitly.
We have to mention that a massive, five-day war games was being conducted while Bagapsh was in Moscow.
The maneuver was the biggest and most extensive since 1993.
Without any doubt, this was also a strong message from Russia and Abkhazia to Georgia, saying, ´´don´t consider military means for a solution to Abkhazia problem.´´
In short, Bagapsh on one hand says to Georgia, ´´I am getting closer to Russia, hence, this problem cannot be solved by military means,´´ and on the other hand declares, as he underlined once again in Moscow, that he is ready for dialogue with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.
Saakashvili, who has promised to find solutions to the problems in Abkhazia and South Ossetia before his term ends in 2009, and must also respond to the call for dialogue by the Abkhaz leader, who is getting closer and closer to Russia, can only accomplish this through new approaches, new ideas, and most importantly, a more flexible attitude on the sanctions issue.
If these don´t happen, I really do not see how the Abkhazia problem can be solved.
August 25, 2005 e-mail: f.ertan@zaman.com.tr
Source: www.zaman.com.tr
080705- Republic of Abkhazia
http://www.kafkas.org.tr/absoluten/showarticle.php?articleID=1366
