“Firm hand” for Abkhazia

Experts say that Ankvab will continue Bagapsh’s political course More than 106,000 of 148,000 registered voters took part in the recent Abkhaz presidential elections, that is almost 72% of the country’s population. Only 2% voted against all candidates. Alexander Ankvab was elected president after winning 54.86% of the votes cast. His principle rival, Sergey Shamba, received 21.04% of the ballots, while the third candidate, Raul Khadzimba, received 19.83%. The inauguration of the new President will take place precisely a month after his election.

VK’s chief editor Alexei Vlasov told ‘the Voice of Russia’ what we can expect from the new Abkhaz President.

- What can we expect from the new President of Abkhazia? Is it possible that he’ll just carry on the policy of his predecessor?

- That is the most likely scenario. He will develop the strategic partnership with Russia, try to create a stronger independent Abkhazia, improve its social, economic and political status, fight corruption. Ankvab is a decisive and tough politician capable of dealing with the tasks ahead of him. I think he’ll choose to modernize Abkhaz society, but to do it without destroying traditions.

- What changes in Abkhaz politics are to be expected?

- I think Ankvab will be more thorough in his social projects. I’ve been to Sukhumi and Gagri recently and I’ve seen that Abkhazia hasn’t yet put all its tourist potential to use, as it was back in the USSR. Economics and social politics are the two main tasks for the next two-three years of Ankvab’s presidency.

- So you think relations with Russia will remain unchanged?

- Yes. And it is no coincidence that the Kremlin was so cautious in commenting on the elections while they were still in progress. Moscow officials said that they will accept any choice the Abkhaz people make. And this position was duly appreciated by Sukhumi. I think that Ankvab is mentally more similar to our Russian functionaries. He reminds me a lot of Vladimir Putin during his first term – with his decisiveness, toughness. On the other hand, Ankvab is more of a traditionalist in the good sense of the word.

 The vice-president of the Humanitarian Programs Center, Arda Inal-Iipa, also commented on possible changes in Abkhaz politics under the new President.

- Two weeks ago you said that the elections in Abkhazia might have an unpredictable outcome. Now you know the result. So how do you think, will Abkhazia's political course change? And will it change drastically or smoothly?

- I don’t think there will be any drastic changes. Ankvab promised some changes as a candidate, so now he’ll have to reorganize executive power, strengthen civic control, increase the government’s accountability. I hope he’ll fulfil these promises, but I don’t think that it will be accompanied by changes in foreign policy.

- You are in Sukhumi now. Do you have an impression of the completed elections?

- It’s rather calm ihere. There’s a certain sense of relief. Even though the candidates haven’t yet congratulated each other, the election campaigning was much more civilized than it was in 2004, and the public is very happy about this step forward.

- We’ve just received news that Hadzimba has congratulated Ankvab.

- That’s great news!

-What are the main internal issues that Ankvab will have to face?

- I think Ankvab won the elections because people believe that he is capable of stabilizing the country. People want officials to be more responsible and accountable to them. There are also some complex issues in relations with Russia, but I’m sure that it’s possible to find a solution to them, and the public also believes so.

By ‘The Voice of Russia”