ABKHAZIA IS CERTAIN THAT ITS RELATIONS WITH GEORGIA WILL BE RESTORED, BUT AS BETWEEN TWO INDEPENDENT, SOVEREIGN AND FRIENDLY STATES

March 23 - SUKHUM, Abkhazia -- The presidential envoy to the negotiations Vyacheslav Chirikba is certain that relations between Georgia and Abkhazia will be restored in time, but as between two independent, sovereign and friendly states.

“This time hasn't come yet, but we work on it, and we hope that this will happen”, Chirikba said today at a meeting with the UN Secretary General Special Representative Antti Turunen. As he said, it would be an mistake to think that the problem of mutual relations between Abkhazia and Georgia could be solved quickly. This is a long process.

He expressed gratitude to the UN representative for his unbiased approach to the uneasy problems of settlement and for his invaluable contribution to the Geneva process.

“We have very good friendly relations with the United Nations, and it is a pity that the United Nations Mission has ceased to exist in Abkhazia. But it is not our fault. We hope that our long contacts with the United Nations will continue at different levels and in different formats. And the invaluable knowledge of the conflict, of Abkhazia and its people the United Nations have accumulated, will influence the world's attitude to us too”, Chirikba said.

Source: Abkhazia Gov.

DOMINO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2011 WILL BE HELD IN ABKHAZIA FROM 17 TO 21 OF OCTOBER

The decision regarding the championship in Abkhazia was made in spring 2010 in Las Vegas, where the previous competition with Abkhazian participants was held. After the end of the championship Arthur Gabunia, the President of the Domino Federation of Abkhazia presented the country as a candidate for the next competition and this offer was unanimously accepted.

Delegates from more than 20 countries including Brazil, US, Canada and others will take part in the championship.

ABKHAZ DELEGATION PLANS TO GO TO NEXT ROUND OF GENEVA DISCUSSIONS WITH NEW ABKHAZ DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS

The issues of functioning of the five-sided mechanism on incidents prevention and response (MIPR) were discussed today at a meeting with the Foreign Minister Maxim Gvindzhia and the UN Secretary General Special Representative Antti Turunen.

At the meeting it was also a question of the outcome of the 15th round of Geneva discussions on security in Transcaucasia which had taken place on March 4.

Antti Turunen highly assessed the MIPR in which framework regular five-sided meetings in Gal are held, adding that discussions had been held in a positive enough atmosphere. Maxim Gvindzhia told the UN Special Representative that the Abkhaz delegation plans to go to the next round of Geneva discussions with new Abkhaz diplomatic passports. The minister pointed to the fact that many countries which have not yet recognized the sovereignty of the Republic of Abkhazia, in particular Latin American countries, recognize our new passports.

Source: Apsny Press

President received Turkey's Abkhaz Diaspora representatives

December 21, SUKHUM -- Today President Sergey Bagapsh has received representatives of the Turkey’s Abkhaz Diaspora engaged in construction business in the cities of Adapazari, Izmir and Duzce - Aluk Tsugba, Emir Zhiba, Ezgur Argun and Chaataya Khvatysh.

Businessmen, representing the leading construction companies from Turkey, expressed readiness to support their historical Motherland in the sphere of construction. “We have all possibilities both financial and technical for this”, Aluk Tsugba said at the meeting with the President.

Representatives of construction firms presented to the President a booklet with the properties they have built in Turkey.

Welcoming the guests, Sergey Bagapsh said a state cannot develop without economy. “Our country’s independence was recognized two years and a half ago. And now we need serious work of both the citizens of Abkhazia living here, and the Abkhaz, being beyond the bounds of their Motherland”, the President said.

The President emphasized that the Russian Federation renders much aid and support to Abkhazia. “Russia renders free aid of RUB 11 bln. to Abkhazia. On these funds we restore roads, we build kindergartens, we repair schools, hospitals, we put the water and power supply systems in order. In the first place we need to restore this infrastructure to begin construction work”, the President said.

The head of state briefed on the planned large-scale work on rehabilitating the railway and the airport, building a road connecting Abkhazia and Karachay-Cherkessia, supplying Abkhazia with gas. According to Bagapsh, there’s also much to do in agriculture. He suggested that businessmen should decide, what specific areas they would like to work in. “If there is a wish to build a factory, a plant, to be engaged in agriculture –no problem”, Bagapsh said.

Speaking about the Turkish-Abkhaz relations, Sergey Bagapsh said he understands the position of Turkey, which is a NATO power. “And, nevertheless, Turkey is our nearest neighbor, some day mutual relations between our countries will be established anyway”, the President said.

A MP Taali Khvatysh, who accompanied the delegation, said he had returned to his Motherland 10 years before and he was not sorry about it. “I believe that every Abkhaz wherever he is, should think of how to return here and to help restore the country’s economy”, he said.

Source: Abkhazia Gov.

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Powder, Beach and Chachliks

Powder, Beach and Chachliks from Jean-Marc Wyss on Vimeo.

Another great place on earth to ride! At the south of the Caucasus range, between Russia and Georgia, is Abkhazia. Small republic since 2008, this new country hope to get a place in the world, free from his powerful neighbours. Overpowdered white mountains are facing the Black Sea, the palms trees are shaked by strong winds while the snow is covering the summits. A group of swiss and french skiers&snowboarders went to explore this unknown region, discovering early March unbelievable snow conditions, so far from every expectations. If you wish more details about this trip, go to espace-heliski.com. We will be pleased to give you all informations you need, and organize you next ski trip.

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Sergey Bagapsh received EU Special Representative for South Caucasus Peter Semnebi

December 14, SUKHUM -- Today the President of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh has received the EU Special Representative for South Caucasus Peter Semnebi. A frank exchange of view took place on the situation in the process of negotiations, first of all, in the format of Geneva discussions. The President of Abkhazia said the atmosphere around the Georgian-Abkhaz settlement in the light of reaction of the European political circles and the US Senate to the Georgia’s President Saakashvili’s declarations, forces Abkhazia to essentially modify its position.

This applies to possible cooperation of the Abkhaz party with the European structures not only in the political, but also in the humanitarian sphere. According to the President, the attempt to divide cooperation for a political and humanitarian aspect does not lead to positive results. “We can see politically poorly-thought out and committed actions of European structures supporting Georgia, despite the tragical events which the Georgian party is responsible for”, Sergey Bagapsh said.

The President of Abkhazia reaffirmed to the EU Mission his position in relation to the so-called "peace initiatives of Tbilisi”. The experience of relations with Georgia proves the contrary to the Abkhaz party. That’s why Sukhum cannot trust any Saakashvili's declarations until Abkhazia receives clear acknowledgement of Georgia’s readiness to sign an Agreement on the non-renewal of hostilities with international guarantees. An official letter with the Abkhazia’s position on this matter has been already sent to the UN Secretary General, Sergey Bagapsh said.

The head of state also notified the delegation on the intention to start creating full-fledged border infrastructure on the river Ingur in the near future.

Source: Abkhazia Gov.

WikiLeaks: 'Left with Russia, Abkhaz Looking for Daylight'

Civil Georgia, December 12, 2010 -- A senior U.S. diplomat was told by his counterparts from EU last year to press Georgia to work with Abkhazians, as "they are looking for some daylight with the Russians", according to leaked U.S. diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks.

The confidential memo from the U.S. embassy in Stockholm records a July 9, 2009 meeting between U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon and five EU foreign policy diplomats.

According to the cable, Helga Schmid, who at the time was head of policy planning unit at the General Secretariat of EU Council, told Gordon "to press Georgia to work with the Abkhaz."

"The Abkhaz have been rebuffed in their overtures to the Georgians, and are left with no option but to seek Russia’s support," Schmid told Gordon, according to the cable.

Schmid is now deputy secretary generals of EU's new diplomatic service - European External Action Service (EEAS).

According to the cable, during the same meeting another European diplomat from EU's external relations commission, Karel Kovanda, told Gordon about the need to reach out to the Abkhazians.

"They are looking for some daylight with the Russians, and we should help," the European diplomat is cited in the cable.

In December, 2009 EU elaborated engagement and non-recognition policy towards Georgia's two breakaway regions, which aims at creating space for interacting with these regions, but without thier recognition.

In September, 2009 the Georgian government announced about the plan to develop a strategy for engagement with the two regions, which eventually resulted in adoption of the State Strategy on Occupied Territories in January, 2010 and its Action Plan six months later.

According to the same cable Gordon told EU diplomats, that Georgia was "a good example" of the U.S. not compromising its principles in the name of better relations with Russia.

"The Russians are testing the Obama Administration to see if it will compromise; it will not," Gordon said, according to the cable.

Source: Civil Georgia

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