MFA of Abkhazia calls on the world community to abandon the practice of double standards

"The world community should abandon the practice of double standards, recognizing the right to self-determination and independent development for one people and refusing such a right to other peoples," - the RA MFA noted.

Sukhum. September 19. Apsnypress. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia responded to the statement by Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, in the Euronews program that he would respect the choice of Catalonia if during the upcoming referendum its population would vote for independence. At the same time, Mr. Juncker did not rule out the possibility of Catalonia membership in the European Union. 

 "In this connection, the Abkhaz Foreign Ministry considers it necessary to declare that the existence of an independent Republic of Abkhazia has moral, historical and international legal grounds. The will of the people of Abkhazia to independence was fixed in a referendum on October 3, 1999, during which the overwhelming majority (97, 7 percent) voted in favor of the Constitution adopted in 1994, proclaiming the Republic of Abkhazia a sovereign, democratic, lawful state, a subject of international law. On October 12, 1999, based on the results of the referendum, the Parliament adopted the Act on State Independence of the Republic of Abkhazia.

 The right to free self-determination, implemented by the people of Abkhazia, fully corresponds to the norms and principles of international law. The principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is enshrined in the United Nations Charter of 1945, the Human Rights Covenants of 1966, the Declaration on the Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations of 1970, the Helsinki Final Act of 1975, the Final Document of the Vienna Meeting of 1986 and in other major international legal documents.
 
 Thus, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) states that "all peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue of this right, they freely establish their political status and freely provide their economic, social and cultural development "(Article 1, paragraph 1).
 
 The Declaration on the Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations (1970) specifically states that the means of exercising the right to self-determination may be "the establishment of a sovereign and independent state, free accession to an independent state or association with, or the establishment of any other political status freely determined by the people, are forms of realization the right to self-determination by these people. " 

 In view of the foregoing, the world community should long ago abandon the practice of double standards, recognizing the right to self-determination and independent development for one people and denying such a right to other peoples. Ignoring the right to self-determination violates the free will of the people of Abkhazia and impedes the realization of the right to development.
 
 In 2008, the Republic of Abkhazia was recognized by the Russian Federation, and later by a number of UN member countries. Recognition of independence on the part of Russia ensured reliable security guarantees for the Republic of Abkhazia, which, after the end of the Georgian-Abkhaz war, was exposed to undisguised military, economic and information pressure from the revanchist authorities of Georgia. Deprived of the possibility of a military revenge in 2008, the Georgian authorities continue the policy of information blackout and international isolation of Abkhazia, impede the realization of the fundamental rights of its citizens and put obstacles on the way to further international recognition of the country. Despite this, the Republic of Abkhazia seeks to expand ties with countries that have recognized its independence, as well as to establishing new contacts in various regions of the world. 

 For 24 years, Abkhazia has independently developed a democratic political system, a market economy, a legislative base, independent courts, civil society, and ensures the protection of human rights in accordance with international standards. The Republic of Abkhazia demonstrates sustainable indicators of socio-economic development, and it can serve as an example for states that have embarked on the path of stable development and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
 
We expect that the statement made by Mr. Juncker in favor of respect for the right of the inhabitants of Catalonia to gain independence will be fully taken into account in relation to the Republic of Abkhazia. Such an approach would serve a fair endorsement of the supremacy of the fundamental principles of international law, declared and respected by the European Union. "