Abkhazia has no plans to accede to Russia or any other state - Bagapsh

SUKHUM (Itar-Tass) - Abkhazia has no plans to accede to Russia or any other state, President Sergei Bagapsh told a meeting with the vice-president of the International Crisis Group, Alain Delatroz, and the director of ICG Office for Caucasus, Lawrence Sheets on Tuesday.

“We are building an independent, legal and democratic state and have no plans to sidetrack this path whatever efforts this would cost,” he said.

“The country’s authorities will conduct no talks with the Saakashvili regime,” Bagapsh said.

He urged further presence of the UN Mission in Abkhazia and spoke against EU observers.

“The EU unequivocally supports the Georgian side,” Bagapsh said. Moreover, “EU member-states reject entry visas to Abkhazian citizens,” which is “inadmissible and such practices have occurred for a long while.”

Along with this Bagapsh underlined that “Abkhazia is ready for cooperation with all countries that would like to establish normal relations with it.” “We harbour no illusions that tomorrow the whole world will recognize us. But it is very important for us that the world’s biggest country – Russia - recognized us,” he said.