British Ambassador to Georgia meets Abkhazian politicians

At the meeting with Dennis Kief, GB's Ambassador to Georgia who arrived to Sukhumi on Friday, prime minister of Abkhazia Alexander Ankvab expressed his surprise with the negative reaction of the leading European countries, who criticised Russia's lifting up of economic sanctions against Abkhazia.

As he talked to the diplomat, the head of the government of Abkhazia asked: "What is then the essence of humanism, democracy, defence of human rights? For how many years shall Abkhazia live in blockade that has caused huge economic damage? Is it prohibited for the people of Abkhazia to live normal life and enjoy their rights?"

In Dennis Kief's opinion, the lifting up of the sanctions against Abkhazia will aggravate the relations with Georgia and warm up the tension in the region.

The British Ambassador asked about the economic situation, the state of things in the Galskiy District, and the process of passportization. Alexander Ankvab characterized the economic situation in the Republic as stable. "We're getting ready for the resort season and hope for a huge inflow of tourists. Certainly, we have current problems and difficulties, but we cope with them," Mr Ankvab said. He emphasized that Russia's quitting the regime of economic sanctions will help Abkhazia to solve many economic problems.

Alexander Ankvab characterized the situation in the Galskiy District as generally stable and controlled by the authorities. As he said, if there is any tension there, it is caused by the actions of the Georgian party, both in the upper section of the Kodor Gorge and in the frontier zone.

Touching on the passportization issue, the prime minister said that the process is normal. "Residents of the Galskiy District will have a chance to have their passports. Nobody will be forced them into the procedure, as Georgian media are trying to present."

On Friday, the British Ambassador also met Nugzar Ashuba, Speaker of the Parliament of Abkhazia. The Speaker asserts that the Group of Friends to the UN Secretary General views the peaceful settlement of the conflict only through Abkhazia's return into Georgia. "Abkhazia will never get back into Georgia. It's surprising that the West is so persistent in restoring the state created by two tyrants - Stalin and Beria," Nugzar Ashuba has added.