Sukhumi Rejects Compromise over Abkhazia Status

Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze said on May 18 that the Abkhaz side is not ready for making compromises needed for a breakthrough in a decade-long standstill conflict.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister of breakaway Abkhazia Raul Khajimba said that Sukhumi would not accept any compromise with the Georgian side over Abkhazia’s status in the Georgian state.

“Abkhazia’s status as an independent state is confirmed by the Abkhaz Republic’s constitution and is not a subject of reconsideration,” Khajimba told agency Interfax news agency on May 18. 
 
Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson told RIA Novosti news agency that the Georgian side will “do utmost to peacefully settle the Abkhaz conflict.”

“But everyone should understand that we cannot wait forever,” Nino Burjanadze added. She expressed hope that Russia will play a positive role in resolution of the Abkhaz conflict.

Georgian State Minister Goga Khaindrava, who is in charge of conflict resolution, will visit Abkhaz capital Sukhumi on May 20 to hold talks with the Abkhaz side.

The Georgian leadership has already launched consideration of a new concept over Abkhazia conflict settlement, which considers creation of a two-member federation state. 

“The document, which outlines in details all the aspects – economic, legal, political, of the conflict resolution, will be at first discussed by the Georgian National Security Council. Only after that we can disclose the details of the concept,” State Minister Goga Khaindrava told Civil Georgia.

In his latest report issued in April over the situation in Abkhazia, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Anan cited “slow progress” in conflict resolution and called for the Abkhaz side to give up its uncompromising stance and start talks with Georgia regarding the breakaway region’s status.