Civil Georgia. Georgia
Jan 21 2007

Bagapsh: Informal Deal to Secure Multiethnic Parliament
Breaking News published on 21/01/2007

By Civil Georgia ()

Sokhumi, 21 January 2007 – Abkhaz leader Sergey Bagapsh said that
there is `a gentleman’s agreement’ between the political forces in
Abkhazia which will help to elect `multiethnic parliament’ during the
upcoming elections on March 4.

`Officially there are no quotas allocated for certain ethnic groups
in the Abkhaz Parliament; but there is understanding, there is
agreement at least for time being and we will not let this
[agreement] to be violated. An essence of this agreement is simple:
let’s say an ethnic Russian candidate is nominated in one of the
[single-mandate] constituencies; several other candidates can also be
nominated in the same constituency including by the opposition
parties, but let them [other candidates] also be ethnic Russians,’
Bagapsh said in an interview to the Russian news agency Regnum
published on January 19.

He also said that Abkhazia’s independence agenda will dominate during
the election campaign, like it was during the previous elections in
the unrecognized republic.

`Everyone running for the seats in the Parliament should understand
that they are going to the legislative body for this purpose,’
Bagapsh said.

Georgian daily 24 Saati (24 Hours) wrote on January 19 that no major
tensions are anticipated between the Abkhaz political forces on the
eve of the parliamentary elections.

Political groups backing the Abkhaz leader Sergey Bagapsh, involving
Amtsakhara, Aitaira (Revival) and United Abkhazia will be challenged
during the elections by an opposition Forum of Abkhaz People’s Unity,
uniting supports of Vice-President Raul Khajimba and former Abkhaz
leader Vladislav Ardzinba. Khajimba was Bagapsh rival in 2004
presidential elections and came into power as a result of
power-sharing agreement with Bagapsh.

Newly set up party Russian Citizens Union will also be running in the
elections. This party will try to benefit from the votes of ethnic
Russians and Armenians, according to the 24 Saati.

Inal Khashig, an editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper in
Abkhazia Chegemskaya Pravda, told the 24 Saati, that the opposition
forces have little chances to succeed in the upcoming elections.

`Although there is certain disappointment among the society over the
authorities’ performance, the opposition will hardly benefit from it…
No one wants return of past,’ Khashig told the Georgian newspaper.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress