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Monday,
July 30,
2007, #143 (1410)
“Russia will not make investments in Abkhazia without Tbilisi’s agreement,” declared Russian Ambassador Vyacheslav Kovalenko on July 27, while expressing interest in Abkhazia as a supplier for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi—but not without Georgia’s input. The day before the ambassador’s comments, Speaker of Parliament Nino Burjanadze warned Moscow against giving a role to Abkhazia as the region prepares for the Winter Olympics. “Russia has no right to include the territory of Abkhazia in the creation of infrastructure for the 2014 Olympics without Tbilisi’s permission,” Burjanadze said. “…We must remind [Russia] that Abkhazia is a territory of sovereign Georgia. If Russia continues its capital investments, the Olympics in Sochi will have the same fortune as the [1980] Moscow Olympic Games.” De facto foreign minister of Abkhazia, Sergey Shamba, said Sokhumi has been ready to receive Russian investments for years, but that Moscow’s attention grew sharply after Sochi’s successful bid to host the Games. Moving construction materials from Abkhazia to nearby Sochi, he said, will be cheap and attractive for Olympic organizers. “Abkhazia will of course be involved in this large project. It goes without saying that with all the construction work going on, there will be demand for our inert materials, construction materials and many other services which we can contribute,” Shamba commented. The Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta published reports on Russian investments in the breakaway region on July 26. According to the paper, Russian renovation of the Sokhumi airport is planned along with a new cement factory and other infrastructure for construction work. The supposed investments are reportedly be worth USD 170 million. The article quotes Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Zhukov as saying that Abkhazia will supply construction materials for Sochi. “Abkhazia has been included in the Olympic zone, and pins its hopes for economic development on Russian investments. Abkhazia also plans to host Olympic guests,” the newspaper writes, adding that the Kremlin has not officially confirmed the arrangements. Top Georgian politicians were quick to join the chorus of condemnation. Chair of the parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee Kote Gabashvili said he hadn’t seen any official documents including Abkhazia in Sochi’s Olympic preparations—and predicted problems for the Games if he did. “Russia ought to acknowledge that it must not force Georgia to take measures which will threaten the organization of the Olympic Games in Sochi,” Gabashvili said. The newly-appointed State Minister for Conflict Resolution Davit Bakradze chimed in. “No states have a right to use a neighbouring country’s territory or piece of territory without the permission of the government. We are working with our Russian colleagues to persuade them that the only way to maintain long term stability and peace in this region is to manage it in political way within Georgia. No other way will ensure stability, either for the Olympics or other kind of activities,” Bakradze declared. |
Kovalenko: No Russian Investment Without Georgian Consent
