Experts: by opposing Georgia to Russia Saakashvili makes West sympathetic

Having opposed his small Georgia to great Russia, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili won expected sympathies in the West. This conclusion was made by the participants of the roundtable organized by the Abkhazian TV, namely, political scientists Liana Kvarcheliya and Arda Inal-Ipa, and Abkhazian MP Garik Samanba.

In Mr Samanba's opinion, everything that happens today in Abkhazia is a well-thought-out action designed by the authorities of Georgia and their friends, which is related, among other things, to Georgia's aspiration for the NATO. The Abkhazian MP thinks that the world community should condemn the Georgia's actions directed against Abkhazia and South Ossetia - against the states willing to have their statehood and independence.

Political scientist Arda Inal-Ipa, director of Abkhazian Centre of Humanitarian Programmes, believes that Abkhazia should try not to lose its own policy amidst the Georgian-Russian conflict.

Liana Kvarcheliya, deputy director of the same Centre, asserts that Abkhazia should be ready to all possible manifestations of Georgia's fight on her, including terrorism. The expert emphasized the importance of information work in this context. "Today, unfortunately, the information environment is dominated by Georgia and those who support the Georgian position in relation to Abkhazia. I think we need to strengthen our information efforts, for the world to better understand what happens."

It was noted at the roundtable that when explosions sound over Abkhazia, international institutes keep silent. According to Mr Arda Inal-Ipa, terrorism has been recognized as threat No. 1 by western countries and America, but in Abkhazia they build their policies and positions quite differently as compared to their home countries and their asserted allies.