Raul Khadjimba: all visits of officials should be designated in the RA MFA

RA President Raul Khadjimba had a meeting with the Cabinet of Ministers on coordination of foreign policy.

Sukhum. July 29. Apsnypress. Irena Dzhopua. Opening the meeting, RA President Raul Khadjimba reminded requirements of regulatory framework: "There is a decree, which was signed in 2006 by Sergey Vasilyevich Bagapsh "On coordination  role of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs in conducting the Common Foreign politics of the Republic of Abkhazia". There is the concept of "co-ordinating role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia". I recall that in accordance with this Decree, all executive bodies are obliged to inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the ongoing international activities, international relations, official visits, consultations and negotiations, signed or intended for signing documents and other arrangements".
 
 The head of state stressed that these rules are violated: "Often it happens that the heads of departments, reporting to nobody, go outside Abkhazia". And he asked: "All visits should be marked at the RA Foreign Ministry. Even if it's a trip to Russia, our strategic partner. Also, if your foreign colleagues plan to pay official visits to Abkhazia, you must advance to inform the RA MFA. This applies, as stated in the decree, and project agreements, the administrative-territorial units of the Republic of Abkhazia with the subjects of foreign states, subject to agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The decree also stipulates that bodies of executive authorities should ensure the inclusion of representatives of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the interdepartmental committees, working groups and other bodies related to the implementation of international relations".
 
 According to Raul Khadjimba: "In recent years, the Government has made measures to enhance the role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But apparently, these efforts were not enough".
 
 The President laid the responsibility for the current situation on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "In accordance with the decree, the Foreign Ministry had to report on the activities of executive bodies and officials, which entailed a violation of the established order. In addition to individual cases, I have not received any written information on these matters from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs".

 President instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to report on such cases.
 
In turn, Minister of Foreign Affairs Vyacheslav Chirikba stated that the Decree of the President "is systematically violated on all counts". "It is a long list of officials and violators of the Decree. In particular, some ministers go to Russia without notifying the Foreign Ministry officials, discuss some programs abroad. We will inform President on every violation in written form", - Chirikba said.