12 August 2009 - Premier.gov.ru Transcript of the beginning of the meeting: Sergei Bagapsh:
Prime Minister Putin, thank you very much on behalf of our elders, the
Council of Elders. You met our Council. They are the leaders of our
regional branches of the Council of Elders. You
have a good understanding of what the word elder means for any people,
but particularly for Abkhazians and people from the Caucasus. We are
glad that the current Council of Elders includes highly respected
people, all of who have significant life experience, experience earned
in the service of many different organisations. And today, during these
difficult times, as we establish our own country, what these people
say, these people's words, should carry great weight, because of all
that they have seen and experienced in life. And they will say what
they must say. | |
Now,
on their behalf, and speaking in a personal capacity, I thank you for
finding the time, despite of your hectic schedule... When we were
preparing for this, Mr Putin said the Council of the Elders comes first
of all, and then everything else. And so welcome. Konstantin Ozgan (chairman of the Abkhazian Council of Elders):
Prime Minister Putin, let me, on behalf of all my comrades, the members
of the Council of Elders of Abkhazia, welcome you to our ancient Abkhaz
land. The people of Abkhazia thank Russia, the Russian President, and
you, Prime Minister Putin, for the peace that we have now throughout
Abkhazia, and for recognising our country. We
are closely examining the agreement that was signed by the Governments
of Russia and Abkhazia. The people of Abkhazia believe in the Russian
Government, the people of Abkhazia trust the Russian President, and the
people of Abkhazia trust you, Mr Putin. The Republic of Abkhazia is
Russia's reliable ally. I have a particular
perspective. I have been involved in Abkhazian and North Caucasus
politics for a long time. After what happened in August last year in
the North Caucasus, the Russian Government made a very strong, brave
decision, perhaps even one which damaged its own foreign policy. When
the Russian state put an end to the aggression, it saved the people of
South Ossetia from annihilation. After that
came the recognition of the Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of
South Ossetia. The people of Abkhazia and the peoples of the Caucasus
saw this as a sign that Russia is the guarantor of peace, political
stability, and prosperity in the Caucasus and in the Republic of
Abkhazia. But I think that this understanding
alone is not sufficient. It is vital for the Council of Elders of the
North Caucasus Republics, and maybe even for the forum of the Council
of Elders of the whole Caucasus and the Council of Elders of Abkhazia,
to announce to the whole world that neither the United States, nor the
NATO member states, nor any European country can act as guarantor here,
in this land. And that the people of the North Caucasus and the peoples
of Abkhazia think only Russia can be that guarantor. In
this regard I think that perhaps it makes sense for the Council of
Elders to make this their priority, and to be more active. Today we, in
the Council of Elders of the Republic of Abkhazia, agreed that we
consider this to be the chief focus of our activity. Prime
Minister Putin, you are recognised worldwide. You are involved in
solving problems worldwide. We thank you for the fact that you are
here, today, in Abkhazia. Thank you. Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much. Thank you for finding time for this meeting today. Mr
Bagapsh and I have spoken extensively about our relationship. I have
just met with representatives of the opposition. I was pleased to
observe that the Russian-Abkhaz relationship is not politicised; it is
above party politics. And there is an absolute consensus in Abkhazian
society regarding the development of our relationship. That is very
important. I would like to assure you, to tell
you, that we have almost worked out the fundamental parameters of this
relationship with the Republic's administration, and that we will now
refine the details of our planned cooperation, the plans for
cooperation on rebuilding the Republic's economic potential. But,
in my opinion, the most important work has been carried out by you, the
elders, the people of the older generation in Abkhazia. Because it was
you who raised those people on whom the status and future of the
Republic now rests. Their courage enabled you to withstand the
blockade, and allowed you to insist on your right to independence in
1992 and 1993. This is what laid the groundwork for today's
circumstances, for Russia's recognition of the Republic's independence.
I know that there are many such able people. I
do not doubt that Russia will find that it has a reliable friend on its
southern border with Abkhazia. |