Realistic approach in Türkiye-Abkhazia relations
Until 1996, a ferry connection operated twice a week between Trabzon and Sukhum.
Last month, opposition MP Engin Özkoç asked the Turkish foreign minister if Türkiye will recognise Abkhazia.
In fact, the more realistic question that should have been asked is whether or not the ferry connection between Sukhum and Trabzon will be made as before.
Until 1996, a ferry connection operated twice a week between Trabzon and Sukhum. As a result of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) blockade in 1996, these connections were stopped. Abkhazia was virtually cut off from the outside world as a result of the 1996 decision by the CIS to impose economic sanctions at the request of Georgia and Turkey, which cooperated with the CIS decision, and discontinued ferry travel to Abkhazia.
It also emphasized that Russia fully cooperated with the embargo decision until 2000 and that during that period a lot of harm was inflicted on the people; however, the sanctions did not yield any political results. See: Blockade of Abkhazia
Just like before, the Abkhaz-Circassian diaspora in Turkey should work towards reopening the connection between Trabzon and Sukhum. This would be the realistic approach Türkiye-Abkhazia relations.
See: Wikileaks: Turkey's Circassians Demand Freedom to Travel to Abkhazia
See also:
+ Turkey-Abkhazia Relations post-Abkhaz Elections, by Hasan Kanbolat
+ Abkhazia for the Integration of the Black Sea, a publication by TEPAV