Interview of the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia Sergey Shamba to the "Den Respubliki" newspaper

– Sergei Mironovich, please tell us what main directions of Abkhazia's foreign policy do you plan to develop in the coming years after the elections?

– Considering our strategic alliance with the Russian Federation, we are primarily focused on further development and deepening of relations with Russia. At the same time, we continue to look for other countries that are ready to cooperate with us, but this objective, one might say, is not of primary importance, because we can implement all our real interests – security and economic development – ​​in alliance with the Russian Federation. The Russian market, investments, tourism and ongoing projects contribute to the development of our economy, and existing agreements guarantee our security. That is, the agreements that we have with Russia provide us with security guarantees, because in case of a threat, Russia acts as an ally in terms of defense of our independence and statehood. Therefore, we resolve all these issues in this order. As for the recognition of other countries, for us this is more a question of prestige than of any practical expediency. However, nevertheless, we carry out certain work in those countries where we have mutual understanding with society and leadership. There are already some results in such Latin American countries as Venezuela and Nicaragua. It is very important for us that diplomatic relations have been established with Syria, because Syria and Abkhazia are connected by deep historical roots.

– Despite the fact that Abkhazia is not yet recognized by everyone, the entire international community is watching the events in the country. What do you think is the reason for such interest?

– This is because Abkhazia has always historically been of interest to many great powers. It occupies an important geopolitical position. As they say, geography has become our destiny. Since ancient times, Abkhazia has attracted great powers: the Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and Russian empires. Their interests have always clashed here. Today, we see that the interests of new players on the world stage are clashing. We are all experiencing a restructuring of the world system today. This struggle is already obvious to everyone, because after the collapse of the Soviet Union, a unipolar world was established for some period. But today this order is undergoing serious changes. Russia, as we see, is establishing a new world order. Again, Abkhazia finds itself in the heart of these events. Our elections also draw attention. Our opponents constantly declare that they do not recognize our elections. But the most important thing for us is that the elections are recognized by our friends and allies.

– How do you assess the impact of the results of the first round of elections, recorded by international experts, on further foreign policy strategy?

– Our representative offices in countries such as Germany, Italy and Turkey are actively working. This indicates respect for our state, even in the absence of official recognition. Positive publications, for example, in Italy (more than 50 publications on the results of the first round), confirm that our diplomatic actions are assessed as balanced and restrained. The point is that the elections in Abkhazia are held quite democratically. This is why they are paying such attention. Here you can see how the democratic process is developing. Our statehood has existed for more than 30 years, and during this time we have been able to build the foundations of a democratic state.

– Do you think that an objective assessment of the electoral process by international experts and journalists influence the perception of Abkhazia in the world community?

– Of course, an objective assessment of events affects the general perception of our country. Of course, I am far from naively believing that this will be followed by recognition by Western countries, but a positive international opinion is important for the formation of our country's image.

- What steps does the ministry take to maintain dialogue with international media during the election period?

- We continue to actively provide information through interviews, the official website and other channels. Previously, when the elections attracted the attention of the UN, the dialogue with experts and journalists was especially intense. Now the interest has somehow decreased, but the information work remains at a high level.

– During the voting period, an extraterritorial polling station operates in Karachay-Cherkessia. It was created so that citizens of Abkhazia living in the North Caucasus could take part in the elections. How do you assess the work of the polling station in the KCR?

– I am in constant contact with the chairman of the commission in the fraternal republic, Oleg Etlukhov, and despite the tension of the election process itself, the voting in Karachay-Cherkessia was held at a decent level. The high voter turnout, including among citizens living abroad, indicates the interest of the population.


– How do you see the development of relations with Russia and other strategic partners in the context of the election process and what lessons can be learned from this experience?

– We have not just a strategic partnership with Russia, but a Strategic Union, according to which each side undertakes to protect the other one. We are focused on the further development of these relations, which contributes to the strengthening of economic ties and security. Positive assessments of our actions confirm the effectiveness of this approach.

– Were there any significant recommendations or comments from international experts on the organization and conduct of the elections?

– As far as I know, there were no significant comments on the organization of the election process. However, we perceive any constructive criticism as an opportunity to improve our work.

– What mechanisms exist today to protect Abkhazia's national interests in the international arena, especially if the elections again attract increased attention?

– Considering that a limited number of countries cooperate with us, changes in international attention cannot significantly affect our relations. We continue to act within the framework of the established agreements and do not expect that the elections will lead to drastic changes in cooperation with our partners. We are only interested in Russia's opinion.

– Today, many people in Abkhazia are discussing the possibility of creating a Union State, where Abkhazia would retain sovereignty. What do you think about this?

– Our Constitution clearly defines Abkhazia as an independent and sovereign state, and issues of changing the status are not officially discussed. As for Abkhazia's participation in the union state, this topic has been discussed many times by various political figures, including the former president of Abkhazia. We can consider this possibility if there is mutual interest. We are talking about a union of two sovereign states, similar to the Union State of Russia and Belarus. However, it is important to understand that there are other forms of unification. We are open to considering various options, but so far there are no specific proposals on this matter. Russia certainly supports our aspirations, but it is necessary to take into account the positions of other parties. At present, Russia has other priorities, and perhaps this topic will become relevant after the completion of the current processes.

As for concerns about the possible absorption of Abkhazia by Russia, it is worth paying attention to the example of South Ossetia, which twice held referendums on reunification with North Ossetia, but Russia does not take such steps. Therefore, I see no reason for such concerns.

Personally, I believe that participation in a union state with Russia and Belarus could be interesting for Abkhazia, but this is a matter of the future and requires detailed discussion.

Armida Kishmakhova

Source: Den Respubliki