The Messenger, Georgia
July 28 2005

S. Ossetia and Abkhazia reaffirm friendship at talks
By Tiko Giorgadze

Sergey Bagapsh and Eduard Kokoiti, respective leaders of the
separatist republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, signed a joint
communique in the Abkhaz beach town of Gagra on Tuesday, July 26.

Kokoiti traveled to Abkhazia with his family for a summer vacation
and has met with his Abkhaz counterpart on several occasions
including Tuesday’s formal tete-a-tete.

According to news reports from Abkhazia, the meeting brought together
presidential advisors, local officials as well as church
representatives from both unrecognized republics.

It has also been reported that the de facto ministers of foreign
affairs of the two republics signed a protocol concerning
international cooperation between Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The Abkhaz news agency Apsnypress reported that on Tuesday the two de
facto presidents discussed issues of military, economic, cultural and
security cooperation. They also reportedly reiterated Russia’s
leading role in the peace process aimed at resolving the Abkhaz and
South Ossetian conflicts.

“This signed communique once again identifies the joint desire of the
republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to cooperate,” Bagapsh was
quoted as saying by yandex.ru, “We are going to support each other in
case of need. We are independent republics and nobody should think
that South Ossetia and Abkhazia are at odds. We have stuck together
during recent times and we will continue our positive relations into
the future.”

The two said that both republics support only peaceful resolution to
their conflicts but also rejected recent moves by Tbilisi as
“fascist.” From Tskhinvali, Kokokiti said, “Nowadays there is a
desire to involve us in an unfair political game. But we are only for
peaceful negotiations and normal relations. Therefore Georgia’s
fascist ideology should be condemned by the international community.”

He went on to denounce the international conference on Georgia’s
South Ossetian peace proposal that was held in Batumi on July10-11,
saying it was unfair to Ossetia.

“Such international organizations want to blame us, but neither
Abkhazia nor South Ossetia has committed any aggression against
Georgia. To tell the truth, Georgian aggression was carried out
against us and this fact should be condemned. This is a political
double standard. Nevertheless, we are ready to negotiate equally with
everyone and we deplore all forms of aggression,” he is quoted as
saying by yandex.ru.

On Tuesday, Sergey Bagapsh also indicated that additional agreements
between Abkhazia and South Ossetia would be signed in Tskhinvali. He
even hinted that the de facto state of Nagorno-Karabakh would be
included in the talks.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress