Civil Georgia, Georgia
March 15 2005
Bagapsh Articulates Sokhumi’s Position in Moscow
President of breakaway Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh announced, in Moscow
on March 15, that economic issues should be a priority during talks
between Sokhumi and Tbilisi, while political issues can be discussed
only after solving economic problems, involving cooperation in the
energy sector and the restoration of the railway connection via
Abkhazia.
Sergey Bagapsh, who has been visiting Moscow since March 11,
articulated Sokhumi’s position at a news conference in Moscow,
organized by the Russian news agency Interfax on March 15. He also
spoke about the Russian peacekeepers’ role in the conflict zone and
Sokhumi’s relations with other secessionists regions.
He said that during the visit to Moscow he met with Russian `business
circles’ and discussed economic cooperation. `Political issues were
not put forward, there was no need,’ Bagapsh added. Reports say that
Bagapsh also met with Mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov on March 14.
Sergey Bagapsh also said that agreement between Russian President
Vladimir Putin and ex-President of Georgia Eduard Shevardnadze signed
in 2003 in Sochi should become the basis for launching talks between
Sokhumi and Tbilisi.
`Particularly, we are offering to launch talks over the resumption of
the railway connection and cooperation in the energy sector. Then it
will be possible to start solving political problems,’ Sergey Bagapsh
was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying at the news conference.
In 2003, the two Georgian and Russian leaders agreed `to synchronize’
the process of restoration of the railway link and the return of
internally displaced persons (IDP) to Abkhazia, particularly in the
Gali district. The agreement also envisages joint activities to
rehabilitate the Enguri hydro power plant, which lies at the
administrative border between Abkhazia and the rest of Georgia.
Sergey Bagapsh said that a return of internally displaced persons in
the Gali district has already started. `Those residents who will
return to the Gali district should receive internal passports of
Abkhazia. The possibility of granting these people duel citizenship
[Georgian-Abkhazian] should also become a subject of discussion,’ the
Abkhaz leader said.
But Tbilisi considers that a sporadic return of the Georgian
displaced person to the Gali district without any security guarantees
can not be regarded as a launch of the IDP’s return to Abkhazia.
Sergey Bagapsh also said that the issuing of Russian passports in
Abkhazia will continue. `I myself am a citizen of the Russian
Federation and the citizen of Abkhazia are as well,’ he added.
The Abkhaz leader also said that Abkhazia is ready for `any scenario
of relations with Tbilisi.’ `But I hope that all of these scenarios
will be of a peaceful character,’ Bagapsh said, adding that because
there is no `peace agreement’ signed with the Georgian side
`systematic training of reserve forces are being carried out in the
Republic.’
Sergey Bagapsh said that there is no alternative to the Russian
peacekeeping troops stationed in the conflict zone, which represent
the major guarantor of stability in the region. `We are not going to
let any other forces but Russian [ones] be deployed there. We have a
very clear position in this regard. If the issue of withdrawal of
Russian peacekeepers and the coming of others is put on the agenda,
then we will take over those positions. But this means fueling
tensions,’ the Abkhaz leader said.
Bagapsh also spoke about the military base in Gudauta, Abkhazia.
Interfax news agency reported quoting Abkhaz leader as saying:
`Georgia and Russia are negotiating over the setting up of a joint
anti-terrorist center. I think that the [military] base in Gudauta
could become this [anti-terrorist center] – there are all
preconditions for this.’
In accordance with the 1999 OSCE Istanbul treaty, Russia committed
itself to liquidating this military base in 2001. Russia claims that
it has pulled out its troops from Gudauta; however Tbilisi insists on
international monitoring of the base in an attempt to verify the
complete disbanding of this base.
Sergey Bagapsh also called for increasing coordination between the
secessionist regions of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transdnestria and
Nagorno-Karabakh. He said that there are plans being made to hold a
summit of leaders of these regions.
`Tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, we will decide when to hold
this meeting,’ RIA Novosti news agency reported quoting Bagapsh. The
meeting will take place in Moscow, or in one of the cities of
Russia’s North Caucasus region.