We took note of the recent statement by Bidzina Ivanishvili, Chairman of the ruling “Georgian Dream” party, that the Georgian authorities, after winning the parliamentary elections scheduled for October 26, will find the strength to apologize for the fact that the “national movement” in 2008 “enveloped Ossetian sisters and brothers in flames.”
Despite the fact that this statement does not directly concern the Republic of Abkhazia, we would like to note that such a statement, if supported by real steps towards reconciliation based on a reassessment of past mistakes and apologies to the peoples of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the rejection of methods of political and economic pressure and the signing of a peace agreement, could be the beginning of a process leading to peaceful coexistence and good-neighborly relations.
Mr. Ivanishvili's statement shows that Georgia still has the capacity for internal re-evaluation and recognition of its mistakes, as has happened more than once in our relations.
We recall that back in 1956, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Georgia at the August plenum also condemned the actions of the Georgian leadership towards Abkhazia during the rule of I. Stalin and L. Beria.
On June 27, 1978, Eduard Shevardnadze at the 11th plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Georgia stated: "We should state directly that in the past, in the recorded period, a policy was carried out towards the Abkhazian people that should practically be called chauvinistic, let's call a spade a spade, which fundamentally contradicts both the interests of the Georgian people and the interests of the Abkhazian people." Unfortunately, this did not prevent Mr. Shevardnadze from unleashing a war in Abkhazia in 1992.
Let us hope that Mr. Ivanishvili is more sincere in his intentions and will find the right words in relation to the people of Abkhazia, which this time will not diverge from actions and will end with the signing of a legally binding document on international guarantees of the non-use of force between Abkhazia and Georgia and South Ossetia and Georgia.