Abkhazia: Washington "does not recognize independence of Abkhazia"
U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE Stephan Minikes underlined in Sukhumi on Tuesday
that the United States supports both the territorial integrity of Georgia
and President Saakashvili's attempts to reunite the country. "Neither
the international community nor the United States will ever recognize the
independence of Abkhazia," he said as quoted by Prime News.
Minikes called on the Abkhaz authority to return to negotiations. Although
Speaker of the Sukhumi Parliament Nugzar Ashuba agreed to resume negotiations,
he underlined that Abkhazia will never be part of Georgia. "We are ready
for any sacrifice to maintain our freedom", said Ashuba.
Minikes was part of a delegation of diplomats from OSCE member-states which
visited Abkhazia on September 7th. According to the Russian Regnum news agency
the delegation met with deputies of the unrecognized republic and familiarized
itself with the situation there. They discussed issues concerning the resolution
of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict, the political status of Abkhazia, and repatriation
of refugees and internally displaced persons.
Source: The Messenger