On February 28 the NATO spokesman O. Lungesku made a statement in which she called on the authorities of Abkhazia not to close the crossing points on the state border with Georgia.
In connection with the increased speculation about the closure of checkpoints across the state border on the Ingur River and unjustified appeals to the leadership of the Republic of Abkhazia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia states the following.
The decision of the government of the Republic of Abkhazia to close the crossing points Bgoura (Otobaya) and Bataiguara (Nabakia) fully complies with the legislation of the Republic of Abkhazia and cannot be reversed. It should be noted that in accordance with the Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Abkhazia from July 10, 2012 these checkpoints were established as temporary, pending the establishment of appropriate infrastructure and equipment of the main checkpoint "Ingur". Phased closure of temporary checkpoints starts only after the creation of the necessary conditions, including the repair of the roadway, launch of the bus shuttle and increasing the capacity of the "Ingur" checkpoint.
These measures are aimed at bringing the crossing of the state border in accordance with international standards and are dictated primarily by the need to ensure the safety of both residents of the Gal district and all citizens of the Republic of Abkhazia, and in no way are directed at creating any obstacles to the freedom of movement of residents of the above-mentioned area.
It is symptomatic that such a call, which looks more like a requirement, was voiced by a NATO representative. It seems that the North Atlantic Alliance decided to make an open pressure on Abkhazia. In this context, the strengthening of cooperation between Georgia and NATO, which is expressed, inter alia, in regular NATO-Georgian military exercises, leads to serious reflections. In view of the constantly revanchist moods, promoted by the Georgian authorities, the reluctance of the Georgian leadership to sign an agreement on nonuse of force with the Republic of Abkhazia, which is discussed on the sidelines of the Geneva discussions, such activity cannot but be regarded as a direct threat to the security of the Abkhazian state.
Once again we appeal to the international organizations, this time in the face of NATO, to recognize the existing reality and accept the fact that it is a sovereign state - the Republic of Abkhazia, which borders with Georgia. We consider it necessary to note that a productive dialogue is possible only in conditions of cooperation and mutual respect.
In connection with the increased speculation about the closure of checkpoints across the state border on the Ingur River and unjustified appeals to the leadership of the Republic of Abkhazia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia states the following.
The decision of the government of the Republic of Abkhazia to close the crossing points Bgoura (Otobaya) and Bataiguara (Nabakia) fully complies with the legislation of the Republic of Abkhazia and cannot be reversed. It should be noted that in accordance with the Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Abkhazia from July 10, 2012 these checkpoints were established as temporary, pending the establishment of appropriate infrastructure and equipment of the main checkpoint "Ingur". Phased closure of temporary checkpoints starts only after the creation of the necessary conditions, including the repair of the roadway, launch of the bus shuttle and increasing the capacity of the "Ingur" checkpoint.
These measures are aimed at bringing the crossing of the state border in accordance with international standards and are dictated primarily by the need to ensure the safety of both residents of the Gal district and all citizens of the Republic of Abkhazia, and in no way are directed at creating any obstacles to the freedom of movement of residents of the above-mentioned area.
It is symptomatic that such a call, which looks more like a requirement, was voiced by a NATO representative. It seems that the North Atlantic Alliance decided to make an open pressure on Abkhazia. In this context, the strengthening of cooperation between Georgia and NATO, which is expressed, inter alia, in regular NATO-Georgian military exercises, leads to serious reflections. In view of the constantly revanchist moods, promoted by the Georgian authorities, the reluctance of the Georgian leadership to sign an agreement on nonuse of force with the Republic of Abkhazia, which is discussed on the sidelines of the Geneva discussions, such activity cannot but be regarded as a direct threat to the security of the Abkhazian state.
Once again we appeal to the international organizations, this time in the face of NATO, to recognize the existing reality and accept the fact that it is a sovereign state - the Republic of Abkhazia, which borders with Georgia. We consider it necessary to note that a productive dialogue is possible only in conditions of cooperation and mutual respect.