Abkhaz Political Movement Opposes Railway Project

Civil Georgia, Georgia
July 8 2006

Abkhaz public-political movement Aidgilara (Unity) called on President
of breakaway Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh to disavow a protocol on setting
up of the international consortium on Abkhaz railway rehabilitation,
Apsnypress news agency reported on July 7.

The protocol was signed by the Russian, Georgian, Abkhaz and Armenian
sides in Moscow this May to deal with a multi-million project to
rehabilitate the Abkhaz section of the Russian-Georgian railway.

On June 30 the Forum of Abkhaz People’s Unity, which includes three
opposition parties and nine public movements, also warned that
existing agreements on the railway project can undermine "the Abkhaz
sovereignty."

However, the Abkhaz government denounced the opposition’s allegations
as groundless and said that talks over the consortium are of
"consultative nature" and no legally binding agreements have been
signed yet.