Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

[Federate]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

President of Abkhazia Sergei Bagapsh died this morning on the operating table in Moscow. He was in his early 60s.

[Federate]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

NKR government needs to send condolences to Abkhazia and President Bako Sahakyan attempt to attend his funeral.

[Armanen]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

Old news Federate.

Later on Israel stated they won't supply arms to Abkhazia.

Yep, but the relationship between official tel aviv and tiflis is not as rosy as it once was. Last month 2 jooish businessmen were arrested in tiflis and accused of bribing government workers to push thru a deal.

[Federate]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

NKR president Bako Sahakyan sent condolences to the acting Abkhazian president today.

[Armanen]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.com/2011/05/although-bit-late-georgians-are.html

[Federate]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

Vanuatu recognizes Abkhazia independence - Abkhaz ministry



The South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu has become the fifth country to recognize Abkhazia's independence, Abkhaz Foreign Minister Maxim Gvindzhiya said on Tuesday.

"We exchanged notes on diplomatic relations and signed an agreement," Gvindzhiya said.

Russia recognized Abkhazia and another former Georgian republic, South Ossetia, in 2008. The move followed a five-day war with Georgia after it attacked South Ossetia, where most residents are Russian passport holders.

Later, the two states' independence was recognized by Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru.

Russia's decision has been condemned by many nations. Georgia considers the two regions part of its sovereign territory.

The Russian ambassador in Australia also fulfills ambassadorial duties in Fiji, Nauru and Vanuatu.

MOSCOW, May 31 (RIA Novosti)

http://en.rian.ru/world/20110531/164348947.html

[Mos]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

....

Artsakh delegation to attend Abkhaz President’s funeral
June 1, 2011 - 16:19 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - A delegation of the Republic of Artsakh, led by parliament speaker Ashot Ghulyan left for Abkhazia’s capital, Sukhumi, to attend the funeral ceremony of the deceased Abkhaz President Sergei Bagapsh
The delegation includes NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrosyan and other officials, the head of the Central Information Department of the NKR President’s Office, David Babayan, said.
Abkhaz President died in a Moscow hospital on Sunday, May 29, from complications after lung surgery. The deceased president will be buried on June 2 in his native village in Abkhazia.

[Federate]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

Looks like they are doing what I was hoping they would do do, i.e. condolences and attending the funeral. Good move, Artsakh!

[Mos]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

Yeah, Artsakh and Abkhazia always had warm relations (not surprising really). Though Armenia has always been careful in its relations with these regions, as we need Georgia as a reliable economic partner.

[Mos]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

An interesting article:

Abkhazia: Sudden Death Creates Opportunity to Change Frozen Conflict’s Narrative
June 1, 2011 - 1:24pm, by Lincoln Mitchell
Abkhazia Georgia Russia Abkhazia
EurasiaNet Commentary
The recent death of Sergei Bagapsh, the de facto president of Abkhazia, presents a policy challenge for the separatist territory, as well as for its political patron, Russia.

Bagapsh, who was 62 at the time of his death, was a savvy politician who could maintain a delicate balance between the desire of the Abkhaz people for genuine independence and Russia’s strategic needs. Most Abkhaz have Russian citizenship, yet many are uncomfortable with the territory’s all-but-complete dependence on Russia. Whoever follows Bagapsh, then, will be challenged to please both the Kremlin and the people, while keeping Georgia, which seeks the restoration of its pre-1992 borders, at bay.

Speculation is swirling in Sukhumi, the Abkhaz capital, about who Bagapsh’s successor will be. A special election is expected to take place within three months, with some of the early frontrunners being Sergei Shamba, Aleksandr Ankvab and Raul Khajimb. For now, it looks as if the interim leader will be Ankvab, currently the de facto vice-president.

The election has the potential to mark a watershed in Abkhazia’s political course. If the vote is widely viewed as a sham, with Moscow foisting its preferred candidate on the Abkhaz people, the result will severely weaken Abkhazia’s position relative to its aspirations for independence. It would correspondingly strengthen the contention of the Georgian government that Abkhaz independence is just a façade for Russian expansionism. If, on the other hand, Abkhaz voters are allowed to make a choice free of intimidation and threats, with the candidates enjoying relatively equal access to mass media outlets, and with little intervention from Russia, a very different message about Abkhazia could be conveyed to the world.

A fair and competitive election would not alter the Georgian, American or European view on Abkhazia, or get Tbilisi to back away from its efforts to restore Georgia’s territorial integrity. But it would offer Abkhaz leaders a chance to change the narrative about the so-called frozen conflict. An untainted election would allow Abkhaz leaders to refute assertions that they are Moscow’s puppets. It would also show that the Abkhaz people have their own preferences and should be treated accordingly, even as their aspirations for statehood remain unrecognized in the West.

In addition, good elections in Abkhazia would undermine the stated American policy of strategic patience, or stratpat, toward Abkhazia. The policy has rested on the premise that as Georgia became more prosperous and democratic, the Abkhaz people would see the value of working with Tbilisi and, ultimately, would see the advantages of reunification. Over the past couple of years stratpat has lost its luster because the Georgian government has drifted away from the ideals of the Rose Revolution. Tbilisi has also struggled to recover from the global economic slowdown. Stratpat would suffer perhaps a crippling blow if Abkhazia chooses its next leader through a relatively free-and-fair election, while Georgia’s current president contemplates ways to retain power by becoming prime minister after his presidential term expires. Such a development could force the United States to abandon stratpat altogether, and come up with a more serious and engaged policy for Georgia and Abkhazia. Ultimately, it could expose US statements about Georgia’s territorial integrity as merely platitudes with no hope of realization.

Due to Abkhazia’s contested political status, there has generally been little interest in Abkhaz elections in the West. Given that Georgia seeks to bring Abkhazia back under Tbilisi’s control, along with the fact that Abkhaz independence is recognized only by Russia and a handful of other states, this election, like previous votes in the territory, will probably not draw observers from multilateral organizations, such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. International watchdog groups, other than those with strong ties to Moscow, also will undoubtedly eschew observing the special election. Thus, a significant development for Abkhazia could pass largely unnoticed in the West. If the Abkhaz special election is perceived by voters in the territory as relatively competitive and clean it will bolster their desire for independence and sharpen the contrast between Abkhazia and Georgia.