Interviews

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia, Daur Kove, commented on the statement of Georgian Prime Minister Georgy Kvirikashvili.

 Sukhum. March 13. Apsnypress. Several days ago Georgian Prime Minister Georgy Kvirikashvili made a number of statements, in which he once again confirmed the interest of the Georgian authorities in achieving real progress in negotiations in the format of Geneva international discussions. At the same time, he also noted that he is ready to personally take part in the negotiation process. According to Kvirikashvili, Georgian authorities express readiness for direct dialogue with Abkhazians and Ossetians. In this regard, we asked the Foreign Minister of Abkhazia, Daur Kove, to comment on the situation.

  Daur Vadimovich, how do you assess the statements of the Prime Minister of Georgia? Does this mean that the Georgian authorities are really ready for a direct dialogue with Abkhazia and South Ossetia in order to resolve the accumulated problems and the settlement of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict?

 We drew attention to the next statement of Georgian Prime Minister Georgy Kvirikashvili, in which he confirmed the readiness of the Georgian side to establish a direct dialogue with the Abkhazians and Ossetians. It should be noted that this is not the first statement of this nature by the representatives of the Georgian leadership. The problem is that we do not yet see any real steps on the part of Georgia, which would facilitate the establishment of dialogue and the settlement of the conflict as a whole.

 During the Geneva international discussions, we are faced with a complete lack of understanding by the Georgian side of existing problems and a categorical refusal to adopt a joint document on the non-use of force. From our point of view, the adoption of such a document can be a good basis for the Georgian-Abkhaz talks with the aim of regulating interstate relations between Abkhazia and Georgia with the mediation of the Russian Federation and other international actors participating in the process of peaceful settlement.

  Does this mean that the Abkhaz side is ready to take a counter step and start a full-fledged bilateral political dialogue with Georgia?

 I want to recall that the Republic of Abkhazia since 1993 participated in the negotiations on the settlement of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict, which were held under the auspices of the United Nations with the mediation of the Russian Federation and OSCE participation and aimed at a political settlement of the conflict. The events of 2008 led to the fact that this format was completely destroyed.

 Given the new political realities that have developed in the region, was created the current format of the Geneva discussions, designed to ensure security in Transcaucasia. However, as practice shows, the Geneva international discussions are in stagnation and for many years do not give the expected result.

 The Abkhaz side has always demonstrated readiness for dialogue and mutually acceptable compromises that can change the existing situation for the better. In case we see real, not declarative readiness of the Georgian side to build a full-fledged interstate dialogue, the Abkhaz side will be ready to take part in it.

 The problem is that to implement such an initiative it is necessary to create a reliable platform on which the whole process will be based. Again, in our understanding, such a basis can be the adoption of a document on the nonuse of force.

 I would like to hope that this time the Georgian authorities will demonstrate their political will and begin to implement their own statements.