RIA Novosti, Russia
March 6, 2008

Lifting of sanctions on Abkhazia to boost rail traffic to Armenia –
RZD

MOSCOW, March 6 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s decision to lift transport
and other sanctions on Georgia’s breakaway republic of Abkhazia will
significantly increase passenger and freight traffic via Georgia to
Armenia, Russia’s rail monopoly Russian Railways (RZD) said on
Thursday.

Russia lifts trade, economic, financial sanctions on Abkhazia

MOSCOW, March 6 (RIA Novosti) – Russia has lifted trade, economic,
financial and transport sanctions on Georgia’s breakaway republic of
Abkhazia, and urged other CIS countries to follow suit, the Foreign
Ministry said on Thursday.

The ministry said that "due to a change of circumstances, the Russian
Federation no longer considered itself bound" by a resolution on the
Abkhazia-Georgia conflict, which was adopted by the CIS Heads of
State Council on January 19, 1996.

It said sanctions were imposed amid a confrontation between Georgia
and Abkhazia that continued after the 1992-93 war and were designed
to compel Abkhazia to adopt a more flexible position, primarily on
the return of refugees and other displaced persons.

"Today the situation has changed drastically. The majority of ethnic
Georgian refugees have returned to Abkhazia’s Galsky district," the
ministry said.

Abkhazia, an unrecognized republic with a population around 200,000,
has plans to reiterate its calls for recognition of its de facto
independence by Russia and major international organizations later
this week.

Russia’s lower house of parliament the State Duma is to discuss the
issue of Georgia’s breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
on March 13.

Shortly after Kosovo declared independence on February 17, Abkhazia
and South Ossetia, both involved in bloody conflicts after
proclaiming independence from Georgia in 1991, said the recognition
of Kosovo should now be taken into account when considering their
claims for sovereignty.

Russia has repeatedly said the recognition of Kosovo will set a
precedent for other breakaway regions, including in the former Soviet
Union.

The Russian parliament said in a statement in late February that
Kosovo’s independence gives Russia the right to forge new
relationships with self-proclaimed states.

The decision to lift transport sanctions on Abkhazia will
significantly increase passenger and freight traffic via Georgia to
Armenia, Russia’s rail monopoly Russian Railways said.