Foreign Minister Viacheslav Chirikba met UN delegation

SUKHUM -- On October 12, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia Viacheslav Chirikba, met UN delegation headed by UN Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez – Taranco. The delegation also included Co-chair of the Geneva discussions Antti Turunen, political adviser to the UN and representative at Geneva Discussions Hailu Mamo, advisors of Oscar Fernandez - Taranco – Gianluca Rampolla Del Tindaro and Christopher Carlin.In his salutatory speech Oscar Fernandez-Taranco congratulated Vyacheslav Chirikba on his new appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs and also pointed out that it was his first visit to Abkhazia.

According to the Minister, Abkhazia has great experience of successful cooperation with United Nations. “We have achieved a high level of trust between UN and Abkhazia. We have good contacts with the Co-chair of Geneva Discussions Antti Turunen and now we are glad to welcome you. This is an expansion of our contacts and to some extent their renewal”, – noticed Chirikba.

Foreign policy priorities of Abkhazia became the major issue of the discussion. Minister pointed that building a modern democratic state is a very important goal. Abkhazia is open for cooperation and is interested in establishing future contacts with UN and UN agencies that provide humanitarian support to local people.

Oscar Fernandez – Taranco, in his turn, expressed hope for successful continuation of UN humanitarian projects to become an important basis for further cooperation between UN and Abkhazia. UN delegation also expressed its interest in the overall political situation in the country.

UN Assistant Secretary General emphasized that prolongation of Geneva Discussions on Security in Transcaucasia and IPRM meetings plays a significant role and is an important aspect of the UN Political Mission.

Minister agreed that communication in the framework of Geneva Discussions and IPRM meetings in Gal is a positive factor but stressed that achievement of certain results can be possible only when Georgia starts to consider Abkhazia as an equal partner of negotiation process.

At the end UN Assistant Secretary General thanked the Abkhaz side for the warm welcome and expressed his wish to participate in the next Geneva Discussions.

Source: MFA Abkhazia