RESOLUTION OF THE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF
ABKHAZIA regarding Appeal of the
People’s Assembly – Parliament of the Republic of Abkhazia to the Council of
Federation and to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian
Federation “On Recognition of Independence of the Republic of Abkhazia”
Having reviewed the text of the
People’s Assembly – Parliament of the Republic
of Abkhazia to the Federal Assembly of
the Russian Federation “On Recognition of Independence
of the Republic
of Abkhazia”,
The People’s Assembly of the Republic of Abkhazia Resolves:
1. To approve the text of Appeal of
the People’s Assembly – Parliament of the Republic
of Abkhazia to the Council of
Federation and to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation “On Recognition of Independence of the Republic of Abkhazia” (attached).
2. To send the text of Appeal to the
Council of Federation and to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
3. To publish the text of Appeal of
the People’s Assembly – Parliament of the Republic
of Abkhazia “On Recognition of Independence of the Republic of Abkhazia” in mass media.
4. The present Resolution comes into
force from the day of adoption.
Vice-Speaker of the People’s
Assembly of the Republic
of Abkhazia V.
Tsugba
City of Sukhumi,
March 7, 2008
TO THE COUNCIL OF FEDERATION OF THE FEDERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE RUSSIAN
FEDERATION
TO THE STATE DUMA OF THE FEDERAL ASSEMBLY OF
THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
APPEAL OF THE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY –
PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ABKHAZIA on
Recognition of Independence of the Republic of Abkhazia
The Republic of Abkhazia
has been functioning successfully already for 15 years as an independent state.
Establishment and legal foundation of the state independence of Abkhazia has taken
place in full compliance with the recognized norms of the International Law.
In 1991 the Supreme Council of
Georgia adopted Act on restoration of state independence of Georgia, in accordance with it, Georgia
was declared as an assignee of the Georgian Democratic Republic of 1918-1921,
with which Abkhazia did not have legal relations. Starting from this moment the
Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic (GSSR) de jure ended its existence.
Consequently, state-legal relations between Abkhazia and Georgia, which had
been established and regulated in accordance with the Soviet legislation, were
stopped also on the basis of the Soviet legislation. Hence, on the territory of
the former GSSR were created two legally unbound states – Abkhazia and Georgia, and recognition of the integrity of Georgia
from the side of the UNO, in the boundaries of the non-existent for that moment
Soviet Georgia, does not have any legal grounds.
In 1992 Georgia realized military
aggression against Abkhazia. People of Abkhazia, with armed hands, defended
their right to independence. Having achieved victory in bloody liberation war,
people of Abkhazia gained their independence and confirmed their stable will to
maintain the integral right to liberty and life in dignity.
On October 3, 1999 there was held a
referendum, on which the absolute majority of population supported the
independence of the Republic
of Abkhazia. On October
12, 1999 was adopted Act “On State Independence
of the Republic
of Abkhazia” and this
was a turning point of development in the contemporary history of Abkhazia. The
people of Abkhazia once again confirmed their aspiration to achieve the actual
state independence, their readiness and capacity of independent solution and
definition of the future of their country.
During the entire post war period
all the efforts of the authorities of the Republic
of Abkhazia, directed towards
conclusion of peace agreement and establishment of equal good neighborly
relations between the Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of Georgia,
have been fully blocked by the Georgian authorities. At present, the
Abkhazian-Georgian negotiations have reached a deadlock that was confirmed by
the Secretary General of the UNO at the session of the Security Council on
January 23, 2008.
During 15 years of its independence
Abkhazia demonstrates its adherence to the universally recognized principles of
democracy, observation of fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms and its
aspiration to be a dignified partner of the community of democratic states in
the world. In the post war years, in the circumstances of unprecedented
pressure from the side of the international community, isolation and blockade,
the population of Abkhazia clearly demonstrate all the signs of viable
independent community with own problems and challenges, characteristic for the
transitional establishment period. The Republic of Abkhazia
has already been formed as an independent, democratic and rule of law state.
The Republic of Abkhazia actually possesses all the
attributes of power, formed with observation of democratic standards. The
democratic institutes of civil society, the effective legal system of power,
corresponding to the norms of International Law are effectively acting and
developing. The free means of mass media, legal opposition are functioning.
Economy of Abkhazia is independently functioning and developing.
At the same time, absence of
international recognition creates exceptional difficulties for the Republic of Abkhazia in its sustainable development
and poses a threat to its national security. Illegal recognition from the side
of the UNO of the territorial integrity of Georgia
within boundaries of the GSSR, whereas Abkhazia de jure and de facto at that
moment was not within Georgia,
is unintentionally serving as encouragement for the aggressive aspirations of Georgia
against Abkhazia. Aggressive aspirations of Georgia in particular are nowadays
the basic source of escalating the tension and are posing a threat to the peace
and security in the region.
The Parliament of the Republic of Abkhazia
takes note that the process of formation of the independent democratic state of
the Republic of Abkhazia and its achievement of
international recognition is irreversible.
The achievement of state independence of Abkhazia has deep, objective historic
prerequisites and is a political manifestation of the gained level of national
consolidation, socio-economic and cultural development of the Abkhazian nation.
The possibility of further development, of maximum satisfaction of own needs
and strategic provision of national security people of Abkhazia consider only
in the conditions of an independent state. In the given political reality, any
attempt to deprive Abkhazia of independence and sovereignty, achieved at the
expense of great sacrifices, will inevitably lead to broad scale regional armed
conflict, involving in it neighboring countries.
The Parliament and the people of the
Republic of Abkhazia give high assessment to the role of Russia, as of a major
guarantor or peace and security in the region and express deep gratitude to it
for the unilateral abolition of trade-economic and other sanctions against the
Republic of Abkhazia, introduced by the CIS countries on initiative of the
Republic of Georgia.
The State Duma of the Russian
Federation, having discussed previously adopted Appeal of the Parliament of the
Republic of Abkhazia on recognition of independence of the Republic of
Abkhazia, in its Statement of December 4, 2006, announced that such formulation
of an issue expresses sincere aspirations of the population of Abkhazia and
made a recommendation to the international community to take them fully into
account for guaranteeing Human Rights, peace and security in the given region.
At present, due to the recognition
of independence of Kosovo by many Western states, geopolitical situation has
been considerably changed. The real preconditions for recognizing the state
independence of the Republic
of Abkhazia have been
created. Taking into consideration that creation and formation of Abkhazian
state is realized in full compliance with the norms of International Law,
recognition of Abkhazia from the side of Russia
would increase the international authority of the Russian
Federation and would enhance centripetal forces,
reinforce sustainable stability in the Northern Caucasus and entire Southern
frontiers of Russia.
The people of the Republic of Abkhazia are looking hopefully at Russia and are anticipating
manifestation of its political will about this issue.
Based on the above-mentioned:
- Building upon the fundamental
principle of nation for self-determination;
- Taking into account historic
reality of establishment and development of Abkhazian statehood and political
foundation of existing of the Republic
of Abkhazia;
- Emphasizing the exceptional role of
Russia
in destiny of the Abkhazian people, in formation and development of its
contemporary statehood;
- Taking into account fraternal ties
and close historic relations between the people of Abkhazia and the peoples of
the Russian Federation;
- Being aware that international
recognition of independence of the Republic
of Abkhazia will serve to peace and
stability in the Caucasus –
People’s Assembly - Parliament of
the Republic of Abkhazia
appeals to the Council of Federation and to the State Duma of the Federal
Assembly of the Russian Federation
with a proposal to discuss an issue of recognition of the Republic of Abkhazia
as an independent, sovereign state.
People’s
Assembly - Parliament of the Republic
of Abkhazia
March 7, 2008
(Archive of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Georgia/Translation from Russian)