Bagapsh Speaks of Conflicts

In an interview published by the Russian newspaper Vremya Novostey on February 27 President of breakaway Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh said that if Kosovo receives international recognition, “Abkhazia will also be recognized as independent three days later.” 
 
“As for Georgia, it has not ruled out that some day it will become so attractive that even Switzerland will express a willingness to join it. However, today things look different. I want to reiterate that political issues are settled through the economy and wisdom, instead of ‘rattling swords’,” Bagapsh said.
 
He said there are clever people in Georgia who do not support a forceful resolution to the country’s conflicts.

“If a war is launched in South Ossetia, it will involve the entire Caucasus region – this is a process which could hardly be avoided. Moreover, 90% of the residents of South Ossetia and Abkhazia are Russian citizens… Russia protects not the territory but the non-resumption of hostilities,” he added.
 
The Abkhaz leader, who recently visited Moscow, said that he held talks with officials from the Russian Foreign Ministry as well as with South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity.
 
Bagapsh said that although an agreement on mutual cooperation with South Ossetia does not include a military component, if an armed conflict errupted, Sokhumi would assist Tskhinvali.
 
Speaking about the Russian peacekeepers deployed in the breakaway region, Bagapsh said that they will not leave the conflict zone. “Simply put, the population will not let them go. But even if they leave, we will replace them at the [administrative] border [with Georgia],” the Abkhaz leader said.
 
He said that “Georgia’s military rhetoric” does not promote the negotiating process, which is still underway. Bagapsh said that the Georgian-Abkhaz talks scheduled for March 2 were postponed until late March.