Civil Georgia, Georgia
Dec 3 2004

Tbilisi Sides with Bagapsh, Calls on Moscow for Restraint

Giorgi Sepashvili, Civil Georgia / 2004-12-03 15:09:00

Tbilisi, which had previously tried to distance itself from the
Abkhaz election crisis, made it clear on December 3 that, unlike
Moscow, it will support opposition leader Sergey Bagapsh, who intends
to be inaugurated as the new President of unrecognized republic on
December 6.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili commented over the
developments in Abkhazia on December 3 and recognized Sergey Bagapsh
as the President-election of the breakaway region; however he
condemned the October 3 presidential polls in Abkhazia as
`illegitimate.’

Saakashvili said that Tbilisi is ready to hold peace talks over the
Abkhaz conflict resolution only with Bagapsh, who represents the
majority of the population that currently lives in Abkhazia.

Saakashvili, who was speaking in Tbilisi at a meeting with the
representatives of the Georgian-Abkhaz Relations Institute, said that
the elections in Abkhazia were illegitimate, as most of the
population of the region, which was forced to flee Abkhazia as a
result of 1992-93 armed conflict, could not participate in it.

But the President added that the majority of those who currently live
in Abkhazia voted for opposition leader Sergey Bagapsh.

`The elections in Abkhazia were illegitimate, because not only ethnic
Georgians, but also many Russians, Jews, Armenians [who lived in
Abkhazia before armed conflict] could not return to Abkhazia and
participate in the elections. At the same time, it is quite clear
that those people who participated in the elections, expressed the
opinion of the majority of the remaining population and they
supported Sergey Bagapsh in these elections’ Saakashvili said.

`The Georgian authorities are ready to launch a dialogue with the new
authorities of Abkhazia, namely with Sergey Bagapsh, who enjoys the
support of most Abkhazians,’ he added.

However, Saakashvili also warned that `nobody should have the
illusion that Tbilisi will reject its objective regarding the
restoration of Georgia’s territorial integrity.’

`This is our supreme goal. However, this will not occur at the
expense of the Abkhaz people. We need dialogue,’ Saakashvili stated.

The Georgian authorities are also trying to focus more international
attention on Abkhazia, as Bagapsh’s inauguration day encroaches.
Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili met with foreign
Ambassadors accredited in Georgia on December 2 to inform them
regarding the recent developments in Abkhazia.

`Today all the attention of the international community has turned to
the developments in Ukraine, which may result in less interest
towards the Abkhazian issue. But we think that most alarming events
may develop in Abkhazia now, because we have already witnessed those
measures carried out by Moscow [in Abkhazia],’ Salome Zourabichvili
said, referring to Russia’s active involvement in recent crisis.

Salome Zourabichvili said that arrival of Russia’s Interior Ministry
and General Prosecutor’s Office top-official to Abkhazia `is not a
good sign, it may be a very bad sign.’

Moscow, which supports pro-governmental presidential contender Raul
Khajimba, has already imposed sanctions on Abkhazia by halting its
rail link with Abkhazia and banning the import of agricultural
products from Abkhazia, in an attempt to mount pressure on Sergey
Bagapsh.

`We do not think that the natural situation inside Abkhazia will lead
to this kind of destabilization. Destabilization may occur only in
the event of interference of external forces. That is why we want our
friendly countries to be informed about the situation in Abkhazia, so
they can pay more attention and, if they can, influence Russia and
call on Russia for restraint,’ the Georgian Foreign Minister said.

Meanwhile, outgoing President of Abkhazia Vladislav Ardzinba, who
supports Raul Khajimba, reiterated that he will not step down,
despite the planned inauguration of Sergey Bagapsh. The press office
of Ardzinba issued a press statement on December 3 describing the
inauguration of opposition leader Sergey Bagapsh, scheduled for
December 6, as `illegal.’

`Under the current conditions, the Cabinet of the Republic of
Abkhazia has no legal ground to organize a solemn ceremony for
inaugurating Sergey Bagapsh as the newly elected President. Nor can
the presidential credentials be delivered to him,’ RIA Novosti news
agency quotes the statement.

The statement stresses that the ministries and state departments of
breakaway Abkhazia are still under the subordination to the current
President until the holding of repeat presidential elections occur.