APPEAL OF THE PRESIDENT
OF THE
Distinguished Deputies!
I appeal to You in the
very historical moment, when the struggle for restoring the independence has
turned into a new phase. Flourishing and successful society may be
developed only through consolidation of all powers, regardless ethnic or
national origin. Only in such society a
man can live in dignity, according to the high demands of civilization and
democracy.
Abkhaz people always stand side by side with
the Georgian nation in his struggle for freedom and independence, fighting
against foreign empires. Georgian nation
has never left Abkhaz people in need, even in the moments when Georgians
themselves experienced hardship. I
friendship used to go without suspicion and perfidy, which, unfortunately has
become a rule since 1917 and the spread of Bolshevik ideology and totalitarian
political regime.
I am not going to enumerate all hardships and
tragedies through which the Abkhaz and Georgian people went during 70
years. And today still there is a
tension in Abkhazia, as well as mistrust and suspicion between Abkhaz and
Georgian populations. At the same time
the mixed weddings happen with more intensity, the relative ties between
Abkhazs and Georgians become stronger.
No one can destroy this historical aspiration of two relative peoples
living next to each other.
Despite the difficulties that Abkhaz people met
during the totalitarian-administrative system, the Abkhaz national culture has
reached the highest peak over the recent years.
We understand Abkhaz people’s aspiration to extend their autonomy, which
was not perfect during many years, like all political institutions introduced
in the
While developing the new society in the
We have repeatedly stated that the status of
the autonomous republic is inviolable, and it is established in the
Constitution of the
The certain forces in the Center have tried to
compromise from inside
If the Abkhaz people reached the peak of
national-cultural and political development within the hard years, its future
will be more secured and prosperous within free
At the same time the political realism dictates
that the priority should be close cooperation of Abkhazs and Georgians – the
nations historically living on this territory.
The latter does not exclude the possibility of recognizing the certain
rights of Abkhaz people to create political institutions and develop the state
structures of the autonomous republic.
Georgian nation, Georgians living in Abkhazia
understand the aspirations of Abkhaz people, but they will do everything to
avoid gross violation of the Constitution of the
Even through the common sense, proper
assessment of political and legal realities, mutual trust and genuine
cooperation, both in Abkhazia and the rest of Georgia, we may solve the issue
of Abkhazia’s status within the Republic of Georgia – the territorial integrity
of which is guaranteed under the international law.
I wish the success to the Session of the
Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR on the way of creating new structures of a
political power, which will find its organic place within the political system
of the democratic
With the deep respect,
The President of the
(Newspaper “Abkhazetis Khma” /Voice of Abkhazia/, # 117, 10 July 1991)