PRESIDENT DISCUSSED PROSPECTS OF POLITICAL, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF ABKHAZIA WITH POTSDAM UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR
11/03/2010 18:00 ABKHAZIA, SUKHUM
The President of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh discussed prospects of political and economic development of Abkhazia with the Potsdam University Professor Dieter Boden. The President’s adviser on international affairs Vyacheslav Chirikba also participated in the meeting.
In 1995-1996 Dieter Boden was the head of the OSCE Special Mission in Georgia, and in December, 1999 was appointed Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on the Georgian-Abkhaz Conflict and worked in this position for two years and a half.
“We are happy to welcome you back. The United Nations Mission has worked in the republic throughout many years, and the people working for it, knew the region’s problems, promoted dialogue establishment, knew fine points of the situation, however the United Nations leadership decided to wrap up the Mission, but this decision is theirs.
The leadership of Abkhazia was for preservation of the UN Mission, for continuation of the dialogue, but taking into consideration the existing realities”, Sergey Bagapsh said, welcoming the German diplomat. He pointed to the UNO role in the zone of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict in strengthening peace and stability in the region.
“In a stable situation, we are ready to carry on a dialogue with any international structure that wants to talk to us as a recognized, independent state, not considering Abkhazia as a part of Georgia”, Bagapsh emphasized.
In August, 2008 Russia recognized independence of the Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of South Ossetia.
As to the EU and OSCE Observer Missions, Bagapsh reasserted the impossibility of their presence in the territory of Abkhazia. “They should be where the military threat really comes from – in Georgia”, the President said.
At the meeting with Dieter Boden Bagapsh raised the problem of Abkhaz citizens’ entry into some EU countries. He specified that either the refusal reason was not given, or people were recommended to apply for a visa to the Embassy in Georgia which the citizens of Abkhazia have nothing to do with. “There was a case when a visa was refused to a seriously ill young man, though later this problem was solved”, Bagapsh said. “Such attitude towards us causes our society’s negative attitude to the EU countries where human rights are a priority”.
At the same time he added that Abkhazia wanted to be a part of the European community.
Sergey Bagapsh told Dieter Boden about measures for strengthening the state border of the Republic of Abkhazia with Georgia, about the agreement with the Russian Federation on joint efforts in the state border protection aimed at promoting security for the republic’s population. Bagapsh pointed to the Russian Federation’s role as the main security guarantor in this region and the main economic partner of Abkhazia.
Speaking with the German diplomat Bagapsh also touched upon the Geneva discussions. “Abkhazia will continue this dialogue taking into account the "Medvedev-Sarkozy" agreement”, the head of the state said.
Sergey Bagapsh said that his adviser on international affairs Vyacheslav Chirikba would be appointed President of the Republic of Abkhazia’s special envoy to the Geneva discussions. At the same time the President declared that he did not see the settlement prospects.
