From: MSN NicknameEagle_wng  (Original Message)    Sent: 3/3/2006 12:36 AM
ABKHAZ ELITE SIGNED UNITY PACT
01.03.2006 - 12:15:00

(Sukhum/Ajans Kafkas) - The president of Abkhazia and his recent political foes abandon hostilities for a display of national unity.

Abkhazia's divided elite signed an unprecedented declaration last week committing them to display unity against what they said was a threat of aggression from the Georgian government.

President Sergei Bagapsh, Vice-President Raul Khajimba, Prime Minister Alexander Ankvab and Chairperson of Parliament Nuzgar Ashuba were the first to put their names to the common declaration, affirming their desire to have the unrecognised republic, which seceded de facto from Georgia in 1993, recognised as an independent state.

A comprehensive list of public figures including the heads of regional assemblies, representatives of religious and ethnic minorities and the heads of governmental and non-governmental organisations then added their signatures.

In an interview with IWPR, the Bagapsh said he had devoted his first year in office to healing the wounds caused by the 2004 election struggle which brought Abkhazia to the brink of civil war.

"No one is asking anyone to love the president and I am not planning to go to the marriage bureau with anyone," Bagapsh told IWPR. "I have my wife and we have been together for 30 years. But we should love our homeland and our people, and we should understand one thing – that any internal political discord will only lead to the weakening of Abkhaz statehood.

"So I think it is a good initiative to prepare a big letter to all political parties and movements in the republic. I am ready to sign up to it along with everyone - the vice-president, premier and speaker - because we need to show our people's unity in the face of any possible turn of events from Georgia."

Over the last month, Abkhazia has been in a state of anxiety over rumours that Tbilisi is planning a military offensive, an allegation that has been denied in Georgia. One report, even named March 15 as the date for the supposed operation. The Abkhazian opposition newspaper Novy Den published a letter from veterans of the 1992-93 war claiming there was a plan to occupy the southern Gal region.

During the 2004 elections, animosity between the supporters of the two rival candidates reached such a pitch that all problems - political, economic or social – began to be viewed in terms of "who voted for whom." Even family life was affected, with a number of divorces recorded because of political differences.

The friction continued long after the election. Mysterious bomb-blasts targeting Abkhazia's Armenian community in the last two months have heightened tensions and suspicions.

The mood during the signing ceremony in the presidential palace was unusually warm as recent rivals and foes dressed in their best suits, starched shirts and ties exchanged smiles and handshakes.