15:4704/08/2009
In an interview to RIA Novosti, Abkhazian Foreign Minister Sergei
Shamba discusses the role of the United States in the war in South
Ossetia, the effectiveness of a European Union peacekeeping mission in
Georgia, and whose laws Belarusian citizens should respect in Sukhumi.Question:
Last week, there were reports that American observers might join the EU
mission in Georgia. EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus
Peter Semneby followed up by saying that a discussion could be held in
the fall. What is your attitude to this idea?
Answer:
Our attitude is distinctly negative. First, because the idea does not
stem from the mission’s mandate worded in keeping with the agreements
reached by the Russian and French presidents – the mandate provides for
no American participation. Second, the question can be examined if
there is a common wish to expand the mission, but we do not consider it
advisable because we see no additional factor of stability in an
American presence. On the contrary, we have always emphasized that the
U.S. bears considerable responsibility for the events that took place
in August 2008 in South Ossetia. Therefore, we do not trust the
Americans. All these years the U.S. has been arming, equipping and
training Georgian troops and continues to do so, again restoring
military infrastructure, and again preparing the Georgian army for new
acts of aggression. This sticks out like a sore thumb.
What were
the American instructors training the Georgian army for here, on
Abkhazia’s territory, at the upper end of the Kodori Gorge? For an
attack on Abkhazia. We are perfectly aware that attempts to instill a
new combative spirit in the Georgian army will create a new threat in
the region. And we do not see the American side as a factor
contributing to stability in the area. Therefore we are absolutely
opposed to this idea, and will not let Americans in, at least on our
territory.
What is more, we said straight away that attempts to
include the Americans in the EU mission are also calling in question
our participation in the five-country meeting to prevent and
investigate incidents involving Abkhazia, Russia, Georgia, the EU and
UN.
This idea also casts doubt over our role in the Geneva
process. Besides, a recent decision extended the EU mission in Georgia
in its former format for one more year and provided for no American
presence.
Q: What do you think of the effectiveness of the EU mission in the region?
A:
So far, we see no effectiveness in the moves taken by the European
Union in Georgia. We have repeatedly stated that the EU does not react
in any way to Georgia’s military build-up on the border and to its
creation of new threats. So we do not consider the EU’s steps to be
effective. But joint actions and complaints that can be voiced during
five-party meetings may prove effective. Time will tell.
Q:
How can one view recommendations by the Foreign Ministry of Belarus to
its citizens to observe Georgian laws in Abkhazia and South Ossetia?
A:
Unfortunately, the spokesman for the Belarusian Foreign Ministry has
not been very correct and proper in his statement. Even Germany and
Poland, which also made similar recommendations, did it in milder form
– German diplomats did not recommend their citizens to visit Georgia
after Abkhazia. The point is that the Belarusian diplomat’s statement
was caused by circumstances in which the Georgian leadership placed
Belarusian citizens, when it began detaining and arresting people
because they had previously visited Abkhazia. Belarus had to warn its
citizens of this danger, but did not do it tactfully enough.
There
is already a statement by the foreign minister of Belarus, however, who
said that the issue of recognizing Abkhazia is not off the agenda yet.
Q:
Recently, Commander of Airborne Troops of Russia Vladimir Shamanov said
that Russia would help Abkhazia and South Ossetia to set up small
aviation units. What do you think of Tbilisi’s threats to go to the
international court if Russian aircraft fly over Abkhazia and South
Ossetia?
A: We do not generally heed such
statements; they mean little to us. We are developing relations with
Russia in the military, economic and other fields. As far as our
security is concerned, we will do everything necessary for the safety
of our country. We have concluded an agreement on the joint protection
of the border. The border will have cutting edge technology. Before
long we will sign an agreement on a military base and many other
accords. In this sense, deployment of small aviation units in Abkhazia
is of great interest to us.
The main thing is that we do not
threaten anyone. There has not been a single act of aggression from us
in the entire history of our relations with Georgia. Georgia, on the
other hand, has committed four such acts against Abkhazia since the
breakdown of the Soviet Union.
http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20090804/155723046.html
