Sunday 24 October 2010

George Hewitt: Abkhazia has the potential to be a successful state

Win.ru, October 19, 2010 - If Georgians/Georgian politicians really believe the rhetoric of their statements on the ’occupied territories’, they are living in a fantasy world. If they don’t believe it, then they are engaging in utterly cynical attempts to deceive their Western supporters. Either way, they are doomed to fail, just as everything else they’ve attempted since 1989 with regard to either Abkhazia or S. Ossetia had led to failure. They are their own worst enemies, but they refuse to recognize this or any other aspect of reality on the ground.

Today we represent on our site an interview with Professor George Hewitt. He is a professor of Caucasian languages at the School of Oriental and African Studies, a fellow of the British Academy and the honorary consul for Abkhazia to the UK. He has lived on and off in Abkhazia for over 30 years and publishes regularly on the history, languages and politics of the Caucasus.

— As it can bee seen from Your writings You are skeptical about Georgia’s attempts to "reintegrate" Abkhazia and Southern Ossetia. What can You say about current activities of Georgia in this direction? And about the way it would be more proper for Georgia to act? Do You believe that Russia really does threaten Georgia’s independence and sovereignty?

— If Georgians/Georgian politicians really believe the rhetoric of their statements on the ’occupied territories’, they are living in a fantasy world. If they don’t believe it, then they are engaging in utterly cynical attempts to deceive their Western supporters. Either way, they are doomed to fail, just as everything else they’ve attempted since 1989 with regard to either Abkhazia or S. Ossetia had led to failure. They are their own worst enemies, but they refuse to recognize this or any other aspect of reality on the ground. There is only one way to lead to the restoration of normal life in the region and that is to recognize their loss of Abkhazia and S. Ossetia and to get on with the business of building good-neighbourly ties — the same applies to Azerbaijan with reference to N-Karabagh. And as for "Russian threat" to Georgia’s independence and sovereignty — no, not in the way that Georgians claim and many believe. No doubt Moscow wants to preserve some influence in the region and to avoid having Georgia become a member of NATO, but would one have expected anything different from America, if the roles were reversed?

— How would You describe the current situation with Abkhazia and Southern Ossetia in general? Which ways may it develop further?

— The situation in the two republics is somewhat different. Abkhazia does not want to become a satellite of, or annexed by Russia, but is being given no chance to develop in the way it wants because of the West’s dogged support for Tbilisi. Abkhazia has the potential to be a successful state, its economy based on tourism. S. Ossetia is not so beneficially placed. Most people would suppose that union with N. Ossetia is the obvious solution, but it seems that such a solution is not necessarily the first choice of S. Ossetians themselves. Whether S. Ossetia can fully exist as an independent state with its land-locked situation, small population and relative lack of experience at self-government is a difficult question to answer.

— What can You say about the current situation in the Caucasus region at whole? Has it some specific features?

— The Caucasus is one of the most varied regions on earth in terms of linguistic and ethnic diversity. When one adds in religious differences, one might well conclude that the Caucasus does have its own specific features. When the USSR disintegrated, there was a hope that this heralded a ’new world order’, but ’order’ is not a word that easily comes to mind when talking about the post-Soviet Caucasus. The problems are legion and have not been helped (in the Northern Caucasus) by the Kremlin’s failed policies towards Chechenia, which have only served to provide a foothold to militant Islam, which has become such a danger in so many states around the world today. How one accommodates the aspirations of so many peoples is a question that probably requires the wisdom of Solomon to answer. Leaderships in the states concerned need to understand that dialogue at all levels should be encouraged and corruption at ALL levels in society rooted out. The native peoples of the Caucasus developed ways of living together (or at least as neighbours) over the centuries (millennia, even), and one can only hope that in the fast-changing conditions of the modern world, they will be given the chance to rediscover those ways, free from conflict and wars.

— What is Your opinion about the changes taking place in the Black Sea region? What role may play the issue of Abkhazia and Southern Ossetia?

— It’s not clear how what relevance South Ossetia has for developments in the Black Sea region, given its land-locked position. One looks forward to a time when the cooperation being developed between the various states which border the Black Sea will be offered to Abkhazia. As long as there are attempts by Georgia and Georgia’s supporters to isolate Abkhazia and to hinder shipping between Sukhum and Trebizond (Trabzon), there will be potential for misunderstanding and actual conflict. Russia has its Black Sea fleet, and NATO has vessels there too, and one recalls the days in the wake of the fighting in August 2008 when it briefly looked as though the Russian and US NATO vessels might find themselves in dangerous proximity. Just as a number of states (Abkhazia, Georgia, Armenia and Russia) would benefit from a full reopening of the rail-line through Abkhazia, so the Black Sea border-states will benefit from the relaxation of tension that would result from recognizing Abkhazian independence and the establishment of normal good-neighbourly relations between Abkhazia and Georgia. Recognition is inevitable, and so the sooner it comes, the better for all.

Interviewed by Marat Kunaev

Source: Win.ru

Thursday 21 October 2010

Cultural Genocide by Georgia, supported by American Embassy in South Korea continues.

Comment of the MFA of Abkhazia

On the 23rd of September at the 65th Session of the United States General Assembly in New York Michael Saakashvili addressed to People of Abkhazia: “ I want to tell them once again: we will protect your rights, your culture, your history-we will work with you, we will work for you”.

At the same time, the official website of the Georgian government is translated into Abkhazian language, so, from now on the information about government activity will be available for Abkhazians too. Thus, Georgian side is expressing loyalty towards Abkhazia which is actually just a Public Relation act.

We are outraged by the Georgian representatives’ attempts to block the participation of the State Folk Dance Ensemble of the Republic of Abkhazia "Sharatyn” at the “Chonan Huntarion”, International folklore festival-contest in South Korea. Moreover, this action was supported by the American Embassy in South Korea.

As it became known the US Embassy representatives have been trying to break off further Abkhazian concerts in South Korea on Georgian request.

In fact, the real direction of today’s Georgian authorities hasn’t changed at all and is similar to the Stalin’s strategy when Abkhazian people survived through assimilation and mass destruction in the cultural sphere as well. Georgian direction is still pointing at the political, economic and cultural isolation of Abkhazia and its citizens. Such actions of Georgian side and its American partners can be only considered as the cultural genocide of People of Abkhazia and prove once again absolute impossibility of the co-existence of Abkhazians and Georgians in a single country as it is offered by the Western allies of Georgia.

Sukhum 20/10/2010

Source: MFA Abkhazia

Friday 1 October 2010

On the eve of the Victory Day the President of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh addressed compatriots

SUKHUM, September 30 -- On the eve of the Victory Day the President of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh addressed compatriots, soldiers, defenders of the Fatherland, veterans, parents of heroes of the war of liberation!

His address reads:

“Our nation marks the 17th anniversary of the victory over the enemy that occupied the country, put cities and villages, innocent people to fire and annihilation.

In that extremely dangerous for the fate of Abkhazia time a true patriot Vladislav Ardzinba headed the national-liberation movement and managed to bring the idea of freedom and survival of the Abkhaz far beyond the bounds of the Motherland. Thousands and thousands of volunteers who came to the aid of Abkhazia were inspired by this idea. This idea became clear and dear to many politicians, scientists, common citizens all over the world. All through the years of ordeals they have been rendering moral and humanitarian aid to us.

Faced with the threat of holocaust the nation united in a single fist, young and old, men and women rose to defend their Fatherland from the barbarians.

With dignity the nation went through the hard years of restoration of the state in the situation of tough isolation, blockade, and political pressure. Those who were sure they could break us, make us give up our chief goal, were mistaken.

We held out. And today we continue to move confidently to the future. Even if with difficulties, not at the pace we would like to, but together we will overcome this path. The experience of military unity should help us in no less difficult peaceful life.

Every year obelisks, memorials in memory of our soldiers, our children are unveiled in Abkhazia.

They can be erected endlessly, they are dependant on time, but they are necessary for future generations for the descendants to understand, what for and for whose sake their ancestors fought and won this unequal war. And the most important thing is that memory of a heart will survive centuries.

Today the country bows down to the fallen, celebrates the heroes who have survived in terrible battles. They continue a great deed that was started by the people and will be advanced by our children.

This is a hard fate of the Abkhaz. Joy and tears have always come hand in hand in our life before. Let it never ever repeat again.

Our country is worthy of a bright fate, and it is sure to revive. No matter how hard it were, we are obliged to avoid all dangers on the path of the development of the Abkhaz state.

I believe- so it will be.

I congratulate you on this great holiday, compatriots!”