Tbilisi and Sukhumi reach agreement on humanitarian issues

By Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. Exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza

 

Georgian Minister of Internally-Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees David Darakhvelidze has recently met Abkhaz authorities in Istanbul. Reburying the remains of soldiers killed in the 1992-1993 Georgian-Abkhaz war and following violence in border districts and searches for missing people were the main topics of their discussions.

Darakhvelidze has not named the initiator of the meeting, the Abkhaz side probably asked him to keep it secret. Sukhumi sources have made no reports about the talks. Considering the delicacy of the topic and the complexity of relations, as the two states are on bad terms, this is not surprising.

David Darakhvelidze is a native of Abkhazia. He often calls himself a refugee and probably has many friends from the Abkhaz elite. The humanitarian sector (including reburying and searches for missing people) is one of the few sectors where cooperation between the two sides is developing, while they remain in a state of war.

Energy is another sector for cooperation. In particular, the Inguri Dam in the Tsalenjikha District of Georgia is exploited by both countries. The control panel of the hydro-electric plant is in the Gali District of Abkhazia. Thus, the sides demonstrate readiness to communicate and find solutions in topics of mutual interest.

Darakhvelidze said before flying to Istanbul that he will discuss reburying Georgian soldiers buried near Babusher Airport not far from Sukhumi. In September 1993, when the war resumed after another truce, a thermal missile launched from a motorboat shot down a jet flying from Tbilisi. It carried hundreds of Georgian soldiers. Many died and were buried near the airport because sending the bodies to Georgia was impossible. Georgian forces left Sukhumi a few days later.

Georgian State Minister of Reconciliation and Civil Equality Paata Zakareishvili discussed the problem of moving the soldiers' remains from Babusher at a meeting with Abkhaz officials. Zakareishvili may well be the initiator of the talks, making use of his contacts made with Sukhumi in the 1990s.

It is noteworthy that the state minister made no declarations. Observers called his silence a sign of preliminary agreements with Abkhazia, to avoid politicizing the issue. Darakhvelidze refrained from any political hints, stressing only the humanitarian aspect of the project.

As a result, the sides agreed to open 31 graves in Babusher and work on identification of remains of soldiers. Their bodies will be transported to their relatives for burial in Georgia. Abkhazia agreed to open the graves at the Glory Memorial in Sukhumi, where both Abkhaz and Georgian soldiers killed in the final days of war had been buried.

In response, Georgia agreed to open Abkhaz graves in the Digomi Cemetery and send bodies to Abkhazia. What is especially peculiar is that Georgia recognized the presence of dozens of Abkhaz people buried in Digomi.

The Digomi Cemetery is located on the outskirts of Tbilisi. How could Abkhaz troops be there? There were no fights between Georgian and Abkhaz formations anywhere other than in Abkhazia. The only explanation is that the Abkhaz soldiers were buried in Georgia by mistake or for the purpose of boy exchange in the future. Such a version seems possible, considering how delicately people in the Caucasus approach the issue.

Another agreement is on searches for missing people. Both sides have about 2,000 people missing. Relatives have not lost hope of finding them for over 20 years. Tbilisi and Sukhumi show respect towards people missing their relatives.

They are ready to continue burying remains of fallen soldiersBy Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. Exclusively for Vestnik KavkazaGeorgian Minister of Internally-Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees David Darakhvelidze has recently met Abkhaz authorities in Istanbul. Reburying the remains of soldiers killed in the 1992-1993 Georgian-Abkhaz war and following violence in border districts and searches for missing people were the main topics of their discussions.Darakhvelidze has not named the initiator of the meeting, the Abkhaz side probably asked him to keep it secret. Sukhumi sources have made no reports about the talks. Considering the delicacy of the topic and the complexity of relations, as the two states are on bad terms, this is not surprising.David Darakhvelidze is a native of Abkhazia. He often calls himself a refugee and probably has many friends from the Abkhaz elite. The humanitarian sector (including reburying and searches for missing people) is one of the few sectors where cooperation between the two sides is developing, while they remain in a state of war.Energy is another sector for cooperation. In particular, the Inguri Dam in the Tsalenjikha District of Georgia is exploited by both countries. The control panel of the hydro-electric plant is in the Gali District of Abkhazia. Thus, the sides demonstrate readiness to communicate and find solutions in topics of mutual interest.Darakhvelidze said before flying to Istanbul that he will discuss reburying Georgian soldiers buried near Babusher Airport not far from Sukhumi. In September 1993, when the war resumed after another truce, a thermal missile launched from a motorboat shot down a jet flying from Tbilisi. It carried hundreds of Georgian soldiers. Many died and were buried near the airport because sending the bodies to Georgia was impossible. Georgian forces left Sukhumi a few days later.Georgian State Minister of Reconciliation and Civil Equality Paata Zakareishvili discussed the problem of moving the soldiers' remains from Babusher at a meeting with Abkhaz officials. Zakareishvili may well be the initiator of the talks, making use of his contacts made with Sukhumi in the 1990s.It is noteworthy that the state minister made no declarations. Observers called his silence a sign of preliminary agreements with Abkhazia, to avoid politicizing the issue. Darakhvelidze refrained from any political hints, stressing only the humanitarian aspect of the project.As a result, the sides agreed to open 31 graves in Babusher and work on identification of remains of soldiers. Their bodies will be transported to their relatives for burial in Georgia. Abkhazia agreed to open the graves at the Glory Memorial in Sukhumi, where both Abkhaz and Georgian soldiers killed in the final days of war had been buried.In response, Georgia agreed to open Abkhaz graves in the Digomi Cemetery and send bodies to Abkhazia. What is especially peculiar is that Georgia recognized the presence of dozens of Abkhaz people buried in Digomi.The Digomi Cemetery is located on the outskirts of Tbilisi. How could Abkhaz troops be there? There were no fights between Georgian and Abkhaz formations anywhere other than in Abkhazia. The only explanation is that the Abkhaz soldiers were buried in Georgia by mistake or for the purpose of boy exchange in the future. Such a version seems possible, considering how delicately people in the Caucasus approach the issue.Another agreement is on searches for missing people. Both sides have about 2,000 people missing. Relatives have not lost hope of finding them for over 20 years. Tbilisi and Sukhumi show respect towards people missing their relative