The Messenger, Georgia
Jan 26 2007
Khadjimba says no ethnic tensions in run up to separatist elections
By Ekaterina Basilaia
The vice-president of breakaway Abkhazia, Raul Khadjimba, has
rebuffed speculation from Georgian expert Mamuka Areshidze that there
might be ethnic tensions between the Armenian and Abkhaz communities
in breakaway Abkhazia in the run up to the forthcoming de facto
parliamentary elections, Apsnypress reported on January 24.
"The confrontations between Abkhazians and Armenians, desirable and
provoked by outside forces, will not occur," Khadjimba argued in his
interview with Apsnyrpress.
"This has been specially concocted to deteriorate the situation in
Abkhazia on the eve of the upcoming elections," Khadjimba maintained.
In an interview posted by Georgian newspaper Svobodnaya Gruzia
Areshidze stated that "soon the Armenian community, which makes up
the greatest part of the population of Abkhazia, might become a
headache for the Abkhaz authorities, as far as they are trying to
strengthen their position in the region."
According to Areshidze, local Armenians who are twice as numerous as
ethnic Abkhaz, control substantial economic levers in the region,
thanks to the positive attitude of de facto Abkhaz president Sergei
Bagapsh towards them.
There is a long-drawn rivalry between Bagapsh and Kajimba, who
currently share power in the breakaway region.
According to speculations in Georgian media, the reason for Khadjimba
defeat in 2004 ‘presidential elections’ in the breakaway region was
his "obvious aversion" towards local Armenians. "Consequently,
Armenians, dissatisfied with Khadjimba, supported Sergei Bagapsh in
the presidential race," Georgian media reported.
Areshidze says another factor increasing tension between Armenians
and the Abkhaz population has to do with "the Armenian community’s
desire to increase its current informal quota in parliament from
three seats in the 35-member Parliament to five in the upcoming
elections."
The main political movements competing in the elections slated for
March 4 will be United Abkhazia, Aitara (Revival) and Amtsakhara
(Signal Light), which are supportive of current de facto president
Bagapsh. They will run against candidates from the "Forum for
National Unity," an opposition movement where followers of
vice-president Khadjimba are united. The Abkhaz Communist Party,
which is teaming up with the Russian Communist Party, will also take
part in parliamentary elections.
Currently Armenians make up the largest minority group in Abkhazia.