Today Abkhazian society is thinking about internal problems rather than about relations with Georgia. However, many experts and journalists are interested in the results of the recently-held presidential elections in Abkhazia from the point of view of international policy. Can we expect an improvement in Georgian-Abkhazian negotiations under a new management? Can these negotiations be beneficial for both sides and do they have any prospects? The head of the Abkhazian branch of the development fund “Institute of Eurasian Studies,” Sokrat Dzhindzholia, expressed his views on the issues for VK.
- Mr. Dzhindzholia, today many political scientists ask: is there any background for a new deep dialogue between Abkhazia and Georgia? Can the changing of the administration in the republic lead to an agreement between Tbilisi and Sukhumi? Or were these hopes connected with election campaigns only?
- We should always remember the difference between readiness to hold talks (Abkhazia can continue negotiations with Georgia on the issues, which can be agreed), and our firm position in the main issue – independence. Some political scientists think that the constitution of 1994 and the signing of the Act on Independent Statehood of the Abkhazian Republic in October 1999 limited the chances for negotiations, which is not so. Talks and meetings at various levels, almost without changing the agenda, had been held up to 2008. It was the launching of Georgian military troops into the Kodor Gorge in 2006, as well as the August aggression of Georgia in 2008, not only limited, but also broke diplomats’ efforts on mutually-beneficial decisions. Even after that, our diplomats continue participation in the Geneva discussions on security in the South Caucasus. If we could reach an agreement on non-use of force, the situation in the Caucasus would be much more stable.
Georgia, which still doesn’t want accept reality, disorients many experts, first of all European. They believe that Tbilisi’s hopes are based on some doubts by Abkhazia: what if Abkhazians think about a compromise? Through these thoughts of European diplomats some Abkhazian political scientists express shaky ideas: that both sides should forget about myths and negative stereotypes… What myths does Abkhazia have? We have never been mistaken on Georgian intentions toward our republic, we have nothing to reconsider. Actually it is urging for concession, which Abkhazia doesn’t need. These thoughts are lost in plenty of right words, but those who still hope to return Abkhazia to Georgia find them. In fact, such views do not reflect the position of the authorities and society.
- Is there any hope that official Georgia can change its uncompromising position and start talks on Abkhazian independence?
- During the war, when we were asked how to settle the conflict, Vladislav Adzinba said there was only one simple way: to withdraw Georgian army from the republic’s territory. Everybody told us it was impossible, that other ways should be find. But what ways? Our suggestions had been rejected, and at last the Georgian army had to escape from Abkhazia. Today the situation is repeating itself: the European Union offers us a programme of cooperation without recognition and pays great attention to it. Can we see any pragmatic results it has brought or can bring in the future? It cannot, as the programme is aimed at returning Abkhazia to Georgia. Georgia has no suggestions for Abkhazia at all, despite old ones: come back, you are an occupied country, Russia decides everything for us… In reality Georgia has an opportunity to establish good-neighbourly relations with Abkhazia.
- Georgia still thinks that it made a mistake, when it tried to subdue Abkhazia in 1990s, but now it has a chance to gain the trust of Abkhazians…
- Georgians lost their chance to agree with us. There was a real opportunity for it before the war in summer 1992, when the parliament suggested negotiations on inter-relations between Abkhazia and Georgia. Instead of that, the Georgian authorities launched tanks on Abkhazia. The results are well-known. Five years later, on August 14th, 1997, Vladislav Ardzinba visited Tbilisi, together with Yevgeny Primakov, the foreign minister of Russia, who suggested the form of an agreement, according to which Georgia implicitly maintained its territorial integrity. Abkhazian society didn’t agree to this form, but the international situation made the authorities discuss this suggestion. However, it was too little for Georgia. Nobody can say Abkhazia didn’t give a chance to agree to Georgia.
To be continued
Interview by Spartak Zhidkov, Sukhumi. Exclusively to VK.
