"DE FACTO ABKHAZ OFFICIALS PARTICIPATE IN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN YEREVAN"

The Messenger, Georgia
Oct 16 2007

Temur Mzhavia, chair of the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz
government-in-exile, is protesting the inclusion of representatives
of the de factoAbkhaz National Bank, GarantBank and Fininvestbank in
the fourth international banking conference in Yerevan, according to
Akhali Taoba.

Armenian officials often call on Georgia to contribute to positive
neighborly relations, although in this case Armenia is not setting
an example. Akhali Taoba writes.

"This can be proved by the fact that representatives of de facto Abkhaz
financial structures have been invited as official representatives of
an independent country. I believe this is an affront to Georgia’s state
interests and international juridical principles," Mzhavia remarked.

He also said he will write an official letter to the Armenian
Ambassador to Georgia, Grach Silvanian.

"We will not object to de facto administration officials participating
in similar events if they are presented as regional representatives
of Georgia," Mzhavia explained.

The conference began on October 10 and will finish on October 16.

Organizers include the Russian Banks Association, Armenian Banks
Union and International Exchange Association of Moscow.