Abkhaz Official Comments on Top-Level Meeting, NATO
A meeting between Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and Abkhaz leader Sergey Bagapsh will be possible if Sokhumi sees that the meeting will become a breakthrough for conflict resolution, Foreign Minister of breakaway Abkhazia Sergey Shamba said in Moscow on February 16.
?We have no desire to hold a meeting only for the sake of a meeting in order to create a peacekeeper?s image for Mr. Saakashvili. The real steps taken by Georgia prove the contrary ? they speak of a non-peaceful policy,? Interfax news agency quoted Shamba as saying.
He said that he is in Moscow to meet the foreign ministers from two other breakaway regions ? South Ossetia and Transdnestria.
The meeting, scheduled for February 20, will take place in the frames of the Community for Democracy and Human Rights (CDHR), an organization set up by the three secessionist regions last June.
Speaking at a news conference in the Interfax office, Shamba also said that Russia should define its position regarding the recognition of Abkhazia?s independence, otherwise Moscow risks remaining on its North-Caucasian borders face to face with the countries aspiring to NATO membership.
?It is quite obvious that Georgia will become a NATO member state, and as soon as this happens, Armenia will have no other chance, and what will Azerbaijan do ? imagine yourselves. NATO will come up to the Psou River [dividing Abkhazia from Russia], if Abkhazia does not struggle against NATO,? Interfax news agency quoted Shamba.
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