The ex-president’s ouster will not have negative repercussions on the residents of Gali

 

InterPressNews sat down with Taras Shamba, Abkhazia’s separatist movement leader under SU and Abkhazia’s International association president to discuss actual causes and objectives of Abkhazia’s current goings-on as well as hypothetical scenarios of future developments and its potential repercussions on Russia-Abkhazia relations.

--27 May protest rallies against the Government have resulted in Anakvab’s resignation; in the wake of this, the parliament appointed speaker Valeri Bganba as interim president. As you know, snap elections in Abkhazia have been scheduled for 24 August. In your opinion, what fueled the latest developments in Abkhazia the culminating point of which has proven to be the President’s disengagement from the political scene?

-- The Abkhazian people have strived for a comfortable and sedate life. However, because of innumerable reasons, Abkhazia has failed to be molded as a well-fare state. On the contrary, they took to piding people as haves and have-nots here; one strata of society obtained wealth, while the other one continued to suffer from destitution and poverty. All these ills that infected Abkhazia to the core have obviously sparked a massive outrage from the people.

And now I do think that the current values are in need of a major rethink; and this must definitely result in the amelioration of the people’s political, economic and social life.

- The opposition has charged Anakvab with illegal distribution of Abkhazian passports to the Gali locals. It’s immensely cumbersome to accuse the Abkhazian leader of plundering his people. A number of people have defined your announcement on the necessity of formalizing associate relations between Russia and Abkhazia as a harbinger and cause of the current goings-on in Abkhazia. In your mind, is this kind of assessment of Abkhazia’s present developments realistic?

-- Many factors and coincidences have created the present Status Quo in Abkhazia. As for my announcement, while expressing this opinion, I implied that Abkhazia must formalize its associate relations not only with Russian but also with those states with which it plans to cultivate relations. Indisputable is the fact that Abkhazia must finalize an all-embracing agreement with Russia that will involve each and every sphere that interests both countries. This paramount issue must never lose its acuteness even if Powers change hands in Abkhazia.

And again I affirm that my greatest desire is to complete a deal – which will advance all realms of the Abkhazian’s life --with Russia. And I do hope that they will finally manage to iron out a solution for this immensely significant matter. However, unfortunately, on several occasions, they have ignored my opinion. The shrugged off my proposal on signing an agreement with the Georgian side in 1992, for instance.

- A great deal of people allege that Abkhazia’s present developments were fueled by Moscow. In their words, the Kremlin wanted to rid itself of Anakvab, who remained steadfast to the course of Bagaphs, who has reiterated that they must seek ways to re-establish friendly relations with Georgia. As you know, both – Bagapsh and Anakvab — refused to entitle Russians to gain Abkhazian citizenship in order to purchase property there. On top of that, Anakvab refused to build a road from the North Caucasus to Sokhumi. Could the Russian leader have put Anakvab in his bad books because of his pursued policy?

- It’s troublesome for me to anticipate possible reasons due to which Russia has undercut its benevolent attitude to the de-facto leader, who is a rather flexible and witty politician; and thus, I doubt that he would be at odds with the Kremlin, which once put him in power. Many preposterous allegations are likely to swirl round the issue of Anakvab’s resignation today. However, actually, a complex and perplexed social-economic background is what compelled the President to stand aside. Hence, we can state that the former chief executive simply failed to deal with the problems he had been faced with.

-- Anakvab is a rather experienced politician; in your mind, how could he have failed to negotiate with the challenges posed to him?

- I suppose that an undemocratic rule of Abkhazia precipitated his failure to handle the situation there. The people wanted the government to hold dialogues with them; however, the Abkhazian political upper crust has refused to take this step -- to listen to its own people and take their opinion into consideration. That is why, I do think that disregard for his people’s opinion and disrespect to them must have finally resulted in the President’s ouster.

-- Some Russian experts maintain that by manipulating the present situation in Abkhazia, the Russian leader plans to get Georgia off course and make it ditch the association agreement. In your mind, is this allegation close to the truth?

- I do think that this allegation is far from the truth. People issuing such ludicrous statements must be even inapt to see the objects that are right under their nose.

- A large number of the opposition’s pretensions and indictments against Anakvab are linked to their move to give out Abkhazian passports to the Gali locals. Even more, on one of the demonstrations in Sokhumi, Khajimba declared that cleansing Abkhazia of the Georgian population is a mandate from the Abkhazian public. From your point of view, is this bombastic statement from Mr. Khajimba trustworthy? And do you think that after power changed hand in Abkhazia, the Georgian people will be subjected to persecution?

- I cannot really say for sure whether or not Mr. Khajimba has issued this statement. However, I do know that Georgians and Abkhazians are brothers interlinked with cultural communality; due to different reasons, relations among us have repeatedly been deteriorated, and this has even led us to an armed strife and tooth and nail battles. The people have not contended with the Government’s move to grant Abkhazian passports to the Georgians; this as an illegal step from the government and precisely this illegitimate action from them has agitated our people. Against this backdrop, I do exclude that the process of ethnic cleansing in Abkhazia will be launched. On the contrary, the Abkhazian authorities have contributed to the Georgians and Megrerians to return to the region. As far as I know, as many as 60 thousand Georgians and Megrerians have reentered Abkhazia. And even today, the relations between the two people are broadened; at this point, they are seeking to mend ties and move closer to each other. From this it follows that breaking out repressions across the Abkhazia region by the Abkhazian top officials is simply excluded.

- After overthrowing the present government, what kind of political course are the new authorities of Sokhumi supposed to adopt?

- From my viewpoint, the two parties must finalize an agreement and the Georgian side must provide Abkhazia with a safety warrant. And, by all odds, the relations between the two parties must undoubtedly be based on equality.

At Sergey Bagaph’s jubilee, I enjoyed the great honor of opening the evening, and while delivering a speech, I emphasized that the Georgians and Abkhazians are brothers interlinked with social propinquity; however, brothers must not reside in each other’s homes. They can call in one another’s places though. While rectifying the situation, emotions must not overwhelm us. Whether this way or that, we are close to each other and nothing on earth can change this.

- Thus, from your words I concluded that only the door of the Gali region is open to Georgian, and they cannot settle in other regions of Abkhazia. Am I Right?

- What has pushed you to this deduction? As far as I am concerned, a lot of Georgians reside outside Gali today. Once again I repeat ethnic cleansing in Abkhazia is excluded.

- As reports go, in Sokhumi demonstrations -- which aimed to demote Mr. Anakvab -- your brother Sergei Shamba was actively involved. Do you think your will brother run in 24 August presidential elections?

- I can say nothing in this regard; at this point, Sergei is in Sokhumi, and as far as I am concerned, he has enjoyed the public’s goodwill and affection there. However, I cannot speak for him. Obviously, it’s up to him to make a final decision.

- In the beginning of our dialogue you remembered your proposal to the official Tbilisi made in 1992. Could you do us a favor and touch upon this proposal?

-Unfortunately, an x-number of politicians and the people, who are not versed in this topic, have provided us with a wide range of interpretations. And a result of this, truth has very often been misrepresented and the statements from different people have been mangled. The same is applicable to my announcement regarding formalizing the associate relations between Abkhazia and Russia. The same happened when I talked regarding the formation of the federation of Georgia. As you know, a Federation is nothing more than a unity of equal inpiduals.

I made this statement before the war broke out here. By the way, on 14 August, the Abkhazia’s Supreme Council had to scrutinize a project on establishing and cultivating relations between Georgia and Abkhazia. I sent this project to Eduard Shevardnadze, who approved it. And unfortunately, when the Abkhazian MPs had to put their heads on this project, the war broke out.

-In your mind, will the Georgian and Abkhazian sides manage to jump-start a dialogue and reinvigorate the project of 1992?

- This is not palpable today. At this point in time, the two sides can only sign a deal on friendship and cooperation as two independent entities; they can reconcile other issue too. However, besides political will, the Georgian authorities need audacity. Don’t take my words close to your heart, but your politicians are not very well versed in their history as well as in the origin of their own people. If you comprehend my words in the right way, you will realize that I am right. Thus, the Georgian and Abkhazian parties can sew up a deal as two independent states.

-- And after this they must form a united federation?

- No, this cannot be viewed a federation. Georgia and Abkhazia will form two independents states; then time will tell us what will happen later.

- So do you think that Georgia and Abkhazia can be united in a confederation?

-- I cannot see through to the future. Although nowadays Georgia and Abkhazia are two independent countries that must seek ways to move closer to each other.

- Does searching for the way to develop closer relations fall within Raul Khajimba’s or Sergei Shamba’ plans?

-- I cannot speak for them but I know they are realists and they do know that we are neighboring nations and, thus, we must strive to cultivate relations with each other and guarantee our people with a peaceful, interesting and eventful life.

- Mr. Taras, you are our rear guest and if you have anything left to tell our reader, please, go ahead…

- Thank you for such a unique opportunity. I would like to say that Georgia has always been one of the well-developed entities of the international law. May God bestow peace, security and carefree future upon Georgia; may Abkhazians and Georgians always stand beside each other; may God bless these people.

Koba Bendeliani

InterPressNews