Abkhazia calls for independence
SUKHUMI, Georgia (AP) - March 7, 2008 In a unanimous resolution, Abkhazia's legislature called on the
world community and the Russian Parliament to recognize it as an
independent nation.
"The republic of Abkhazia has for 15 years successfully existed
as an independent nation," the resolution said, citing Kosovo's
independence as justification for the timing.
The appeal follows a nearly identical resolution earlier this
week by another breakaway Georgian region, South Ossetia.
Both South Ossetia and Abkhazia have had de-facto independence
since wars with Georgian forces in the 1990s. No country recognizes
their governments, though Russia has tacitly supported their
autonomy from Georgia, which has infuriated Moscow by increasingly
aligned itself with the West.
Temur Yakobashvili, Georgia's state minister for reintegration
matters, said the Abkhazia resolution should not be taken seriously
because many ethnic Georgians fled Abkhazia during the fighting and
have long sought to return.
"This parliament is not legitimate; it was not elected by the
population of Abkhazia," he said. "It cannot reflect the will of
the entire population."
Russia further raised tensions with Georgia on Thursday by fully
restoring economic ties with Abkhazia. Russian officials said the
decision had nothing to do with Kosovo, although Moscow was
infuriated by Western recognition of Kosovo's independence and
warned that it could fuel other separatist movements, particularly
in the former Soviet Union.
Nations that recognize Kosovo's independence from Serbia say
that situation was unique.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili condemned Moscow's full
restoration of trade with Abkhazia as a "grave provocation."
"Russia and its government will bear full responsibility for
militarization of Abkhazia," Saakashvili said in a televised
statement Friday.
Georgia also summoned Russia's ambassador in protest.
In comments likely to further exacerbate the tensions between
Russia and Georgia, Russia's regional development minister, Dmitry
Kozak, said Russian businesses and investors building for the 2014
Winter Games in Sochi can look to Abkhazia for workers and
materials.
Abkhazia sits just a few miles from Sochi.
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Associated Press writers Misha Dzhindzhikhashvili in Tbilisi,
Georgia, and Mansur Mirovalev in Moscow contributed to this report.
