Sukhum/Agency Caucasus – Abkhazian President Sergei Bagapsh said that Western countries would not be able to get Abkhazians to give up their pursuit of independence and get in return promises from Western countries to invest more in the country.
This statement of Bagapsh’s came surprisingly at a time when the Abkhazian administration was expected to call on the international community to recognize Abkhazia in the wake of Kosovo’s declaration of independence. It further said: "Abkhazia is a state of law. Abkhazia will never be led into choosing money to come from Western countries over its independence. The Abkhazian administration is prepared to dialogue with any country, including members of the European Union (EU) and the United States (US), though it holds on to some principles that cannot be sacrificed for anything."
Depending upon Kosovo, which declared unilateral independence without bothering to hear a decision from the United Nations (UN), the format of negotiations between Georgia and Abkhazia would remain unchanged, said Bagapsh: "This is so because the UN Secretary General’s Group of Friends has not changed its stance [even after Kosovo’s declaration of independence]. The UN holds no claim at all to exist any more, because it has lost its authority."
Bagapsh also underlined his decision not to maintain talks with Georgian officials until the problem that has arisen out of Georgia’s deployment of military force in Kodor gets resolved. KU/ÖZ/FT
