The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia has drawn attention to recent public statements by Georgia's top political leadership and clergy during the commemorative events in Tbilisi. These repeated declarations of "impending unification" and "reconciliation" couched in peaceful rhetoric, may appear to outside observers and the international community as a desire for peace. However, in Abkhazia, these veiled statements are perceived solely through the prism of real threats and the historical experience of our people.

The Georgian side's statements about inevitable "unification" are made without any regard for the sovereign will and opinion of the people of Abkhazia. Moreover, they clearly disregard the right of our small people to existence and self-determination. A clear and tragic example for us is the fate of Adjara, which has effectively lost its identity and political subjectivity, disappearing from the political map as an autonomous entity with real rights. Such a takeover scenario is absolutely unacceptable for the Republic of Abkhazia.

If Tbilisi's intentions were truly peaceful and sincere, the Georgian leadership would have taken fundamental steps to demonstrate its goodwill:

Acknowledgment of historical guilt: The first step toward genuine trust must be an official recognition of guilt and responsibility for acts of military aggression against the peoples of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Diplomatic settlement: The only path to a civilized neighborhood lies through recognition of the independence of the Republic of Abkhazia and the establishment of equal diplomatic relations.

Legal security guarantees: Tbilisi must cease its years-long sabotage and sign a legally binding Agreement on International Guarantees of Non-Resumption of Hostilities by Georgia, which will ensure the resolution of any disputes exclusively by peaceful means.

Instead, we are witnessing a dangerous dualism. Amidst "peaceful" prayers and political speeches, Georgia continues to intensively modernize its armed forces, acquiring the most modern Western weaponry. The scenarios practiced during regular military exercises in Georgia leave no doubt: Tbilisi is still considering and refining plans to seize Abkhazia and South Ossetia by force.

It is clear that the concept of "mythical unification" conceals the same revanchist plan for yet another aggression by a state of five million against the small Abkhaz people.

We call on Georgian political and religious leaders to abandon false rhetoric and illusions.