Mathaba.Net, UK
Sept 6 2008

Abkhazian President: `Russia curbed a major war`

Posted: 2008/09/06
From: Mathaba

RussiaToday.com – Abkhazian President Sergey Bagapsh has credited
Russia’s military operation in South Ossetia with curbing a major war
in the Caucasus. He also hit out at claims that Georgia had defended
Tskhinval against attack from the Russian army, describing them as
pure cynicism. To watch a media briefing with Sergey Bagapsh in full,
please follow the link

Speaking at a media briefing in Moscow on Saturday, Bagapsh said:
`Georgia says Abkhazians are bad, Armenians are bad, South Ossetians,
Azerbaijanis, Russians ` everybody is bad. One cannot have a row with
everyone. I think you should look for the roots of the conflict inside
Georgia. That`s what has led to the events we’re now discussing.’

Sergey Bagapsh added Georgia’s aggression against South Ossetia had
been `pure genocide’.

`Without a doubt, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili is a
political corpse,’ he said. `A man who has as much blood on his hands
as he does cannot lead a state and hold talks. Neither me, nor Mr
Kokoity, president of South Ossetia, will ever stand close to Mr
Saakashvili. He is a small tyrant who has been brought up by the U.S.’

The Abkhazian President also announced his country would like to join
the Commonwealth of Independent States: `If the CIS member states
consider it possible, we will join this organization.’

Meanwhile, it was confirmed that the agreement on friendship and
cooperation between Russia and Abkhazia is ready, and will shortly be
signed in Moscow.

Bagapsh also said that Abkhazia would like to become an offshore
country.

20