by Pavel Martynov exclusively for VK
Vladimir Putin “pays great attention to the socio-economic development of Abkhazia and decided to form a special structure at the Presidential Administration to supervise the issues,” it was stated by Tatyana Golikova, Presidential Assistant for Socio-Economic Affairs of the two breakaway republics of the Caucasus. The structure includes specialists for various areas of socio-economic development to collaborate with Abkhaz counterparts to solve problems in the most efficient manner.
One of the main functions of the new structure would most likely be control over spending of funds Moscow grants to Abkhazia within the framework of the complex plan for assistance in socio-economic development of the republic for 2010-2012. Moscow remembers how problematic suspicions of money-wasting were. Before arriving in Sukhumi, Golikova visited Tskhinvali, where she said that the aid Russia has been providing since 2008 was used inefficiently. “This work had failures, it was not carried out at the necessary pace and not qualitatively enough,” Golikova said, noting that the funds provided this year to cover expenses and realize the investment program for the socio-economic development of South Ossetia were quite large.
The presidential assistant promised that “they would be used as intended, for restoration and construction of new facilities. It is essential for the population, so that people would not just stay here, but so that those who left the republic could return. First of all, this concerns socially-sensitive measures used to evaluate state care.”
Moscow offers both financial and organizational support for Abkhazia. “We arrived with a large group of people with a purpose. Out delegation includes specialists in education, healthcare, economics and finance, who interact with their counterparts and would have regular contacts to make any necessary decisions operatively,” Golikova notes.
Rashid Nurgaliyev, Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council, was assisting Golikova. “We are familiar with and satisfied with the work style, when there is great will to see how Abkhazia lives, to meet people, see the state of affairs in villages and cities, facilities for healthcare, education, culture. We are confident that we will do a lot of good deeds in this mood. Despite some organizational problems, we managed to achieve a lot of success in joint work,” Abkhaz President Alexander Ankvab says. According to him, new Russian organizational structures will develop a schedule for collaboration where Abkhaz and Russian structures would work together to fulfil major agreements signed between the two states. The president emphasized that the Russian delegation received detailed information allowing the right decisions to be made. “We have discussed problems of defense, public order and security with Rashid Nurgaliyev. This eye-to-eye talk without hiding impartial information brings great benefit in making joint decisions. I believe that we would be resolving social, economic, cultural issues and etc. in this manner. As a result, this will all benefit both sides,” Ankvab said.
“Our visit was also made in order to learn about the priority goals that need to be achieved in 2013 within the framework of bilateral meetings,” Golikova clarified. She means the projects included in the complex plan of 2013. “Guaranteeing security will make investment attractive. The economy, the social sphere and security are interconnected and we have arrived to determine the steps, according to the spheres, for the short-term,” Nurgaliyev explains the purpose of his mission in Sukhumi.
