Spartak Zhidkov, Abkhazia. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
Continuation
“The idea that everything is very bad in Abkhazia and the only way out is the dismissal of the current authorities is actively imposed on common people,” Leonid Lakerbaya said in his speech at the session of Amtsakhara. The premier made it clear that he wasn't gripping tightly to his position and was ready to be replace any minister, if the opposition proved his incapacity and found a more suitable candidate.
Lakerbaya addressed his words not to participants of the session (it was obvious that veterans supported the government), but the public conscience, which was forming due to many factors. The premier said that his opponents turned any delay in the transaction of Russian financial support into a political argument, hinting that numerous constructions underwent by Ankvab would be frozen, while state employees’ salary increase by 70% would never happen. “I want to disappoint you: of course we will receive the support. And don’t try to profit from the topic… We should always remember that Russia is our only strategic partner, the guarantor of our security. Our relations with Russia are being improved,” the premier stated.
Veterans didn’t agree with “statements, which criticized the authorities for the provided policy of restoration of social infrastructure, healthcare and educational facilities.” In general it was clear that the government and reservists were determined to a strong union. It means that numerous demands by the opposition will stay on paper in the nearest future. At the same time, veterans made several statements which the government had to consider – about further enlargement of the army and other structures providing state security. Reservists proposed improvement of Georgian-Abkhazian border together with the Russian party and provide more comfortable conditions for disabled participants of the Georgian-Abkhazian war. The leaders of Amtsakhara also reminded about the reforms which were mentioned in pre-election promises of Ankvab – cutting vice-president positions, as well as most of vice-premiers and some redundant official structures after “the next presidential elections,” i.e. after 2016.
Two co-chairmen were elected at the session on June 27th, 2013, - Harry Samanba and Otar Lomia. 45 people were elected to the political council. However, the main change was not renewal of the leadership, but the turning of the closed veterans’ movement into a political party. Now civilians, women, and young people can join the party. Of course, the leading positions will be taken by veterans. But now Amtsakhara will have an opportunity to be a mass party in the context of changes provided by the president and the government; it will help to provide political stability in the republic. There is no need in a drastic increase of the party’s size; new initiative people will be sufficient.
The statement adopted at the session stands against attempts to destabilize the situation in Abkhazia for power redistribution: “We would like to state that we won’t let anyone to destabilize the situation in the country, break the constitution or laws, despite any declared good intentions… We stand for a dialogue with all healthy forces determined to searching for positive settlement of problems existing in the country.”
