Abkhazia - 409 days after the recognition
On the August 26, 2008 a new phase for the Republic of Abkhazia began in its long historical development. August events of last year, which began with a night assault on a sleeping peaceful town of Tskhinval, led not only to serious regional shocks, but also influenced the global geopolitical process. Undoubtedly, they became the result of a serious rethinking of Russia's foreign policy strategy, which defined its new role in shaping the new world order.
It is not an objective opinion that Russia, by means of its actions undermined existing balance of forces, which was established after the collapse of Soviet Union. In this connection it should be recalled that the first step in this direction was the recognition of Kosovo's independence, initiated by Western countries. And I doubt whether one should say that the recognition of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is the Russian response to European partner’s actions. If Russia's leadership had doubts about whether or not to recognize our кepublics, so the war unleashed by Georgia, completely swept away all doubts.
Not only historical and legal validity of our people’s aspirations for independence served as an argument in favor of recognition, but also the fact that the recognition of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia has become a prerequisite for security of the people living here.
Contrary to false and imposed by Georgia and anchored in Western circles perception that Russia was guided by the idea of annexation of Abkhazia one should note that Russia was the guarantor of non-resumption of hostilities by Georgia. One of the most urgent issues on the problem of Abkhaz State security protection – protection of the border along the river Ingur from possible attacks by Georgia which has repeatedly occurred can be resolved with the assistance of Russia. Russia's recognition of Abkhazia is the guarantee that there won’t be committed any treacherous attacks on our country.
Many experts believe that Russia's recognition of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia will have no legal effect because it is viewed by international community as a unilateral step and is not considered seriously; in any case it is a common thought. They also refer to the fact that the recognition is contrary to international law, since Georgia's sovereignty and its territorial integrity is recognized by the whole world, and only Russia and Nicaragua and Venezuela are almost the only countries trying to prejudice that fact.
The whole period since the recognition can be characterized as an attempt by international community to analyze the events of August 2008 and try to understand its causes. Immediately after the incredible informational attack in August 2008, many political entities have begun to question the extent of their own fault in what happened there; is Russia so guilty and whether Georgia has become a victim of great power ambitions of a large neighbor. The answer to this question is given by an independent commission established by the European Union and led by a Swiss diplomat, Ms. Heidi Tagliavini. It is about the fact that: "In the night from 7 to 8 August, the town of Tskhinval, Georgia has suffered a continuous artillery attack. Other Georgian military forces were also on the march, moving to Tskhinval and other neighboring areas."
All other findings of the commission should be of secondary importance, because ultimately for all negative consequences of a war is responsible the one who started it. A political leader who dared to go to war should know that there will be civilian casualties, destructions, refugees and many other horrors and sufferings that accompany any war.
Today, a great interest is paid to how the new subjects of international law will operate today. Everyone will be interesting to know whether Abkhazia and South Ossetia are viable, whether we cope with our responsibilities, and most importantly how wealthy and independent our foreign policy will be.
Georgia, continuing to act on the contradictions between the major powers and firmly cemented its status as a Western ally in the Caucasus. At a time when Georgia has repeatedly stressed the desire for full integration into European space, it is easy to determine on which side will be sympathies of leading Western political players. And leaders of many Western nations are still stuck with the line.
International community which was drawing its official opinion on the situation from permanent loud-voiced declarations and denunciations from Georgia, unfortunately, was not ready to recognize the realities of modern times. They still continue to build their attitude to our region basing on a non-existent reality. This policy which is based on the illusion can not be rational; exactly that’s why Western community can not offer any realistic project. Yet the West will assume that it is possible to go back and restore the Georgian State within the former Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, as it was conceived by Stalin, it will remain just a bystander.
Russia's recognition of independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia is a visible proof of its rejection of the alleged annexation of Georgian territory, as our political opponents are trying to put. After the official recognition by Russian Federation, the level of our relationships, in accordance with the rules and regulations of establishment of equal relations between independent states, moved on to new positions. Determination of solid good-neighboring relations with Russia is not only strengthening of positions within the nearest living space, but also a guarantee of integrated and sustained development of our states.
Analyzing the level of Russian-Abkhaz relations, it should be mentioned that Russia is directly interested in Abkhazia to appear before the world community as an established state. Our Republic, being still unrecognized by a single independent country in the world, already was an example of a relatively self-sufficient subject of international law with all the attributes inherent to an independent state. It is, moreover, that the Abkhaz state has recently been developed in extreme conditions, such as the economic blockade, political exclusion, socio-economic disruption, and other consequences of the Georgian-Abkhaz war. The Republic of Abkhazia before the official recognition had the attributes of an independent state, including democratically constituted government authorities, law and army.
One of the priorities of our country at the present stage is the development and maintenance of foundations of democracy in the country having active and constructive cooperation with the outside world. Abkhazia seeks to maintain and develop friendly relations with the world countries based on mutual understanding and mutually beneficial cooperation. Cooperation should focus also on progressive economic development, integration into regional and global infrastructure. In this regard, the Foreign Ministry of the Republic is working on broadening and deepening of international contacts, participates in international discussions, conferences, forums, and in spite of resource constraints, lobbies interests of our state before international community while consistently defending interests of Abkhazia on international arena.
To date, the main partner of the Republic of Abkhazia on international arena is Russia, with which Abkhazia is linked by traditional ties of friendship. A Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance is concluded between our two countries, which opens up tremendous opportunities in front of our Republic in the socio-economic, trade, cultural, military, political and other spheres. The Treaty allows securing our borders and preserving sovereignty of the Republic of Abkhazia. In particular, Article 4 of the treaty states that our countries will jointly take all measures to remove threats to peace, breaches of peace, as well as to counter act aggression against them by any state or group of states.
Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance will also ensure protection of ethnic, linguistic, cultural and religious identity of the people of Abkhazia. In order to achieve a high degree of economic integration our countries will develop trade and economic cooperation; take measures for joining of energy systems, communications systems and telecommunications.
In addition, a Memorandum of understanding on cooperation in international relations between the Foreign Ministries of our countries is signed, which will enhance the work of the Foreign Ministry in all directions. In particular, according to the Memorandum, Russia will represent the interests of the Republic of Abkhazia in third countries through its diplomatic missions, which will contribute to achieving international recognition. Russia is also ready to facilitate the entry of Abkhazia within international organizations, member of which Russia is, etc.
However, as the basis for foreign policy course there is a need for recognition of Abkhazia by international community, strengthening of regional positions, increasing competitiveness on international arena, strengthening of attractive image of the Republic. In this regard, every effort should be made to make the Republic an active participant of international cooperation in the broadest sense, in particular to promote implementation of the strategy of openness to the outside world; to conduct a propaganda aimed at creating a positive image of our country; to facilitate foreign investments and the Republic's integration into regional and global economic ties.
As for the prospects and possibilities of negotiations with Georgia, I would like to say that we remain wary of "political inadequacy" of the Georgian leadership, regular violation of signed agreements, reluctance to develop dialogue and compromise. The Law on Occupied Territories is an extra proof of this. The Georgian leadership makes it clear that it is certainly not configured to maintain diplomatic struggle and does not want to negotiate for peace, and perhaps even plotting plans of force rematch.
Time has shown that efforts to "collect" united Georgian state, as well as undertaken by the Georgian leadership attempt to deploy a propaganda machine, enter international arena as a victim of Russian aggression, and thus to internationalize the conflict may not lead to anything.
Events in August 2008 resulted in the collapse of illusions of rapid "restoration of territorial integrity" of Georgia from political, legal, and military points of view.
Tbilisi's policy towards Abkhazia continues to be clearly of a dead-end nature. One of the fatal illusions that Georgia nourishes, is the conviction that Abkhazian destiny and solution of this problem is entirely dependent on Russia. Thus, they don’t simply want to underestimate the role of Abkhazia in this matter, and especially its involvement in international political process, but at all pass it as a failure. At the same time, Abkhazia has repeatedly demonstrated its independence and diplomatic capacity, and urged political opponents to defend their positions. Moreover, it is the Abkhaz side which has gained respect, including from international mediators, by its balanced foreign policy, willingness to compromise, while at the same time not diminishing the interests of the country.
Events in August 2008 demonstrated the need to find new ways to confront challenges and threats posed both from Georgia and from forces which support and promote its interests. Throughout this time, Georgian leadership was only maintaining and reinforcing our belief in impossibility of constructive dialogue, and despite repeated attempts to establish this dialogue, the official position of Georgian leadership, expressed in military provocations, constant building up of military forces along the border with Abkhazia, represented major threat to our country and was destabilizing the entire region which could not facilitate the negotiation process.
Georgia itself is now experiencing difficult times. There is a serious problem both in domestic and foreign policy of the country. The crisis of power, economic problems, as well as separatist sentiments in the areas densely populated by national minorities, are threatening to grow into a national liberation movement for independence from Georgia - these are the realities of today's Georgia. Strict policy of Georgian authorities in respect of national minorities and opposition demonstrates the shortsightedness of Georgian politicians, who put Georgia in a large and obvious risk to be crumbled into small pieces.
Georgia has established itself as an unreliable partner on the foreign-policy arena. After high hopes that European governments set on Georgia, disappointment came. A treacherous attack by Georgian troops in South Ossetia in August 2008 proves that Georgia does not stop at nothing to achieve its goals, even if the actions are contrary to all existing international laws and basic ideas of humanism. By their actions Georgian authorities only prove that people's lives, nations who they consider their own, mean nothing for them in struggle for ideas that have already became elusive. Such inhuman policy of Georgian authorities can not and should not be supported by any of the civilized nations of the world.
In addition, Georgian attempts to form a circle of allies with common interests, both at regional and global levels became unsuccessful. So GUAM organization, established outside the CIS and with a clear purpose of easing economic and, above all, energy dependence on Russia, which was also united by overall objective of the allies to resolve their territorial issues, in no way justified the hopes set on it at the initial stage of formation. Union is waning, despite initial open support from the U.S. Some participants have already said about nonviability of the alliance. Thus, Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin said that, despite numerous attempts to revive the GUAM organization still remains unpromising.
In addition, Saakashvili showing militarist qualities cut possibilities of his country to obtain NATO membership. Responsibility for military adventures of Saakashvili should be equally divided between the U.S. government and some EU countries. It is likely that at first they did not quite understand what Georgia undertook in South Ossetia. But the most important is that the crisis in South Ossetia has identified an internal crisis in the EU regarding its relations with eastern neighbors, particularly Russia and vividly demonstrated the fact that European Union clearly lacks a strategy for Eastern Europe.
It is impossible to achieve a constructive dialogue with a state with an unstable power in conditions of total violations and infringements of human rights, aggressive methods used to solve both internal and external problems. Threats from the Georgian Government to Abkhazia, backed by appropriate action, could not but affect the attitude towards the current leadership of Georgia. Therefore the main task for Abkhazia for a long time was the solution of security issue. Today, when we have real security guarantees, the next task before us is the development and socio-economic progress. Thanks to joint work and signed agreements with Russia in various areas, we face new opportunities.
It is known that Abkhazia possesses unique recreational potential. Tourism in Abkhazia is one of the fastest growing sectors of economy, which is a significant source of income in the country's budget. Positioning of Abkhazia in the world’s perception as a developed tourist country and ensuring of stability of tourist flows into the country would contribute to a positive external environment around Abkhazia as a stable developing nation, based on gradual, organic infusion into international political and economic space.
Abkhazia is open for experience sharing with tourist-oriented countries, which are ready to share practical knowledge in this field. In addition, Abkhazia has sufficient potential for development of natural, agricultural and other resources. Despite isolation from the world economic and financial processes, having well-founded economic policy, goods of Abkhaz production will be successful in international market. Russia is a big enough market for various types of products from Abkhazia.
Thus, we consider the prospects of development of our state as quite favorable. Now, when the fate of our nation in our hands, we must do everything for its prosperity. Not abandoning our main priorities in foreign policy, we set new challenges before ourselves. Among the main foreign policy directions we, as before, see the achievement of broad international recognition, integration into international political and economic institutions, establishment of mutually beneficial political and economic relations not only with nearest neighbors and regional countries, but also with all countries independent in their foreign policy and willing to cooperate.
In this regard, we have stepped up our activities in Latin America. We hope that recognition of our independence by regional leaders, such as Nicaragua and Venezuela will affect the attitude towards us of a number of states. First of all, these may be countries of Bolivarian alliance of the American Peoples (ALBA), which besides Venezuela and Nicaragua includes Bolivia, Honduras, Cuba, Ecuador and several other states of the region.
It is important for us to establish strong partnerships with our closest neighbors. We are interested and are actively working towards a rapprochement with the representatives of Abkhaz Diaspora around the world, particularly in Turkey, Europe and Middle East. Close liaison with Abkhaz Diaspora living abroad, can have a positive influence in the process of recognition of Abkhazia's independence. Such contacts could help in overcoming informational isolation of Abkhazia and promoting interests of our country abroad.
There is a wide range of issues in front of Abkhazia related primarily to internal and external factors of development of the Republic after independence. Abkhaz society should determine by means of consolidated efforts what it expected from recognition; and what is the Russian role in terms of external and internal actions of the Abkhaz state.
Despite the underlined isolation from international community, Abkhazia continues to remain in the focus of attention of both Western powers and leading international organizations. The main challenge for the official recognition of Abkhazia was the fact that international community is biased and critically considers the future of Abkhazia as independent states. However, such an attitude is another great incentive for us as an impetus for the strengthening of internal resources.
Despite the more than cold attitude of Europe and West towards recognition of Abkhazia, the existing dialogue nevertheless allows to be of opinion that interest in communication still exists. Main thing is to determine the nature of such relationships and understand the interests of Abkhazia itself. It would be wrong to assume that once Europe and the United States reacted negatively to the fact of recognition, we do not care about their opinion. Not at all, we continue to work in European direction to ensure that voices from Abkhazia are heard by western audience.
Long-term foreign political experience has taught us not only to fight in order to defend our own interests, but also patience. What is clear is that the process of recognition of our independence is irreversible. At the same time we do not have a need to accelerate it, as strategic partnership with our great neighbor Russian Federation makes it possible to solve all vital for us our questions in a bilateral format.
Sergei Shamba,
Minister of Foreign Affairs
2009
