Moscow/Agency Caucasus – Although the sixth article of the peace plan jointly proposed by Russia and France covered the issue of the status accorded to Abkhazia and South Ossetia alike, the status of the republic could not be open to negotiation, said Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba of Abkhazia.
The status of Abkhazia was not a matter for negotiation, because "when a referendum was held in 1999, 97 percent of the whole Abkhaz population voted for independence," said Shamba. Only could the recognition of Abkhazia’s independence be a matter of discussion, Shamba added: "All that has recently happened in South Ossetia ought to awaken us to the truth. It is crystal clear to anyone who thinks logically, especially to the politicians, that neither Abkhazia not South Ossetia will ever join the territorial integrity of Georgia. Georgia massacred people from both Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It was a televised massacre. The stream of blood shed can perhaps now convince the society of the world that there is something seriously wrong."
Both Abkhazia and South Ossetia needed to treated with far more objective, international policies based on the reality, not on the conjuncture, Shamba said.
The only way to maintain stability all across the Caucasus was the recognition of both Abkhazia and South Ossetia, said Foreign Minister of Abkhazia. "There can’t be any stability unless the two republics are recognized as independent. Georgia sets a clear example of this, because whenever Tbilisi launched a war after the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics were dissolved, there were both genocide and ethnic cleansing altogether. From now on, it is necessary to take precautions with the reality always kept in mind."
KU/ÖZ/FT
