Minister of Education considers expedient merger of some village schools

July 16, SUKHUM, Abkhazia -- The Minister of Education Indira Vardania declared.

Small schools work in 20 villages of the republic.

“There are villages with two, and at times - three schools, and the number of pupils does not exceed 70”, Vardania said.

The Minister of Education drew attention to the fact that in the village of Jashtkhua of the Sukhum district two schools with 118 pupils function today, in the village of Eshera there are two schools where no more than 20 pupils study. Two schools are in the village of Primorskoye of the Gudauta district, two schools with 70 pupils are in the village of Kulanurkhua, two schools are in the village of Pakuash of the Ochamchira district.

“We share the opinion of our intellectuals that a village lives until the school lives, but small schools are not a solution. Merger of schools in the country will make it possible to solve problems of shortage of teachers of some disciplines and equipping with training and material resources”, Indira Vardania believes.

Prime Minister Sergey Shamba received representatives of Jordanian Business Circles

15 July, SUKHUM, Abkhazia -- Prime Minister Sergey Shamba received representatives of business circles of Jordan, the Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Ruben Migranyan said.

“The possibility of foreign investments penetration and creation of joint ventures in the Republic of Abkhazia was discussed at the meeting. The guests were interested in the possibilities of developing business in different spheres of economy, communications, state guarantees for investments and so on”, Migranyan specified.

The Prime Minister acquainted businessmen with the priority areas of the national economy, home market needs and its possible development. Sergey Shamba called Jordanian businessmen to cooperate, reaffirming Abkhazia’s interest in the development of mutually beneficial contacts. Businessmen from Jordan also expressed their interest in cooperation.

Source: Abkhazia Gov.

President Bagapsh: ''Adressing Abkhaz Diasporas in Turkey, Syria and Western Europe is important''

July 7, SUKHUM, Abkhazia -- Work with Abkhaz Diasporas in Turkey, Syria and Western European countries, establishment of strong contacts with cultural organizations of compatriots, creation of favorable conditions for their repatriation to the historical Motherland is an important area of foreign policy activities of the Republic of Abkhazia, President Sergey Bagapsh declared today, delivering to the Parliament his annual message on the state of affairs in the country.

“We face the task of working out a state concept on the problem of repatriation, including the fine-tuning of mechanisms of social, cultural and political adaptation of repatriates in the environment new to them”, he said. “From the point of view of intensification of contacts with compatriots and the process of their return, opening of direct sea and air communication with the Turkish Republic is one of the top priorities since that would simplify communication with the historical Motherland for many our compatriots”.

At the same time, according to the President, Abkhazia continues to participate actively in the Community For Democracy and Rights of Nations. The emphasis is placed on the sphere of political, cultural and socio-economic relations with the member-countries of this interstate association.

“We are vitally interested in maintaining stability and solid peace in the Caucasian region, in its socio-economic and political development. Forming a friendly environment and strengthening good-neighborliness on the principles of respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity is of key value for our country. Abkhazia's neighborhood with the Russian Federation creates favorable conditions for overcoming isolation from the outer world, for dynamical, peaceful development and prosperity”, the President of Abkhazia declared.

Source: Abkhazia Gov.

GDP per capita in Abkhazia is higher than in Moldova, Uzbekistan, Kirghizia, Mongolia

July 7, SUKHUM, Abkhazia -- GDP per capita in Abkhazia is higher than in such countries as Moldova, Uzbekistan, Kirghizia, Mongolia, Laos, Myanma, Tajikistan, as well as almost all African states, except for three ones, the Minister of Economy of Abkhazia Christina Ozgan believes.

Today for the first time the State Statistics Department has submitted to the republic leadership GDP of Abkhazia for 2009 that amounts RUB 15 billion 676 million 584 thousand. GDP per capita amounts RUB 72 thousand 543.

“Much work has been done, and I want to say, that taking into account these circumstances, we have certain prospects. This indicator will make it possible to trace back our macroeconomic policy in very many aspects”, Christina Ozgan said. According to the Minister of Economy, calculation of such indicators, as a share of GDP budget deficit, stock of money in per cent, velocity of money, level of taxation, energy intensity, metal consumption is to be done.

Source: Abkhazia Gov.

Grand opening of a sports hall held in Ochamchira

July 7, SUKHUM, Abkhazia -- Grand opening of a sports hall was held in Ochamchira. It was attended by President Sergey Bagapsh, Vice-President Alexander Ankvab, the "Abhazsstroi” head Ruslan Tvanba, representatives of district Administration, townspeople and, certainly, children, young athletes for whose sake much work had been done to restore the sports hall.

RUB 20 mln was spent on the repair that had lasted for a year and a half. The basketball court, stands, three shower cabins had been overhauled. Independent power supply had been installed in the hall.

A duty of honor to cut the ribbon was conferred to Vice-President Alexander Ankvab and one of the Ochamchira sports school pupils.

“There is no other sports hall like this anywhere in Abkhazia. It is possible to hold republican tournaments and competitions on an international scale here”, Bagapsh said. He said that similar halls would be built in Gudauta, Gagra, Sukhum.

“The development of sports favors nation's health. We will focus a great attention on it henceforth”, he stressed.

The President pointed to the Vice-President Alexander Ankvab's special role who had supervised the sports hall reconstruction personally.

The head of Ochamchira district administration Murman Dzhopua said the district that had been damaged much during the 1992-1993 Patriotic War of the Abkhaz nation, had received much aid over the last 4-5 years, the government placed high emphasis on its development.

In honor of sports hall opening basketball teams of Sukhum and the village of Tamysh of the Ochamchira district played an unofficial match.

Source: Abkhazia Gov.

Abkhazia Will Have to Live Under International Law - Sergey Bagapsh

July 1, SUKHUM, Abkhazia -- “Abkhazia is no longer as it has been before August, 2008 events. The international recognition of independence imposes heavy responsibility on us”, President Sergey Bagapsh said at a meeting with the “United Abkhazia” activists.

Abkhazia will have to live under international law. “All disputable issues including endless housing complaints must be settled as required by the law”, he said.

The head of state lays certain hopes on the judicial system reform, qualitative improvement of its work.

According to the President, he and other members of the government receive a lot of complaints about judges’ illegal decisions, officials’ utterly rude attitude, unsatisfactory work of law enforcement bodies, violations at the border, and insults to the people coming on vacation to Abkhazia.

The President also drew attention to violations at the Georgian-Abkhaz border. “The control check we have conducted has shown that money has been illegally taken from a man when he crossed the border on the river Ingur. Another shift has taken money from him when he came back”, Bagapsh said with indignation.

The President promised to establish order there till the end of his second term in office with support from his associates.

Touching upon the country’s budget, he said, the following year it would possibly increase for RUB 500 mln.

“We owe much to our people. Increase of the budget will give us the chance to increase their salaries, benefits and other social payments. First of all it applies to disabled veterans, orphans, mothers who have lost their sons. Our teachers’ salaries are inadmissibly low”, Bagapsh said. “At the expense of what can we boost salaries? Certainly, at the expense of the increase of the budget, at the expense of the development of economy, creation of industry, transit, re-export. And we have a lot of such programs.

Source: AbkhaziaGov.

Sergey Bagapsh Supports Multi-party Political System in Abkhazia

July 1, SUKHUM, Abkhazia -- President Sergey Bagapsh supports multi-party political system in Abkhazia. “The political system of Abkhazia must be based on a multi-party system. We are now in the situation when the necessity of changes in the political system of the country has become obvious. There should be three-four parties in Abkhazia, competing with each other in a civilized manner, struggling for power legally, politically”, President Sergey Bagapsh said at a meeting with the “United Abkhazia” activists.

“Like it or not, but we have and will have both a party that has won, and oppositional political forces. We will have to take it as a given”, the Head of State said.

At the same time Bagapsh also emphasized the enormous responsibility of the party, whose candidate wins the presidential election.

Source: AbkhaziaGov.