23:47, 8 December 2004

Powers of Abkahzian vice president to be enlarged

Sergey Bagapsh and Raul Khadzhimba held a joint press conference in Sukhum, the capital of Abkhazia. Presidential candidate Sergey Bagapsh announced the intention to enlarge powers of the Abkhazian vice president, the post of which will be held by Raul Khadzhimba in case of Bagapsh's victory. "The vice president won't receive only a few commissions from the president, the president must fully devote himself to what happening in the republic," Sergey Bagapsh said. In particular, according to Mr Bagapsh, the Abkhazian vice president will work with security and military agencies and control Abkhazia's foreign policy. "The president remains commander-in-chief and the person who determines the republic's foreign policy, but the vice president will control these spheres," Sergey Bagapsh announced.

He pointed out that in case of his victory in the new election, Aleksandr Ankvab would head the Abkhazian government, reported a Caucasian Knot correspondent.

Source: Caucasian Knot