Sokhumi Offers Tbilisi to Launch Talks over Economic Issues
President of breakaway Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh said on February 19 that talks with Tbilisi should be launched regarding economic issues, adding that ?if we launch talks regarding political issues, we will achieve nothing.?
?The most important thing is that we are ready for negotiations, which should be based on the implementation of the [2003] Sochi agreement, including the problem of refugees,? news agency RIA Novosti quotes Sergey Bagapsh as saying.
As a result of the agreement reached between Georgian ex-President Eduard Shevardnadze and Russian President Vladimir Putin on 7 March 2003, the railway link between Russia and Georgia via breakaway Abkhazia should be resumed simultaneously with the return of the internally displaced persons to Abkhazia.
According to de facto Abkhaz President, if talks are resumed with Tbilisi, the sides should focus on energy issues and restoration of the rail link, as, according to Bagapsh, ?that is profitable not only for Abkhazia, but is also politically and economically useful for Georgia and Armenia.?
