MOSCOW, August 20 (RIA Novosti) – A new intergovernmental agreement with Russia could benefit Abkhazia, although the country believes associative relations are excessive, presidential candidate Raul Hajimba told RIA Novosti Wednesday.
“We are talking about integration with Russia. If a relevant agreement is reached, it would entail cooperation in ensuring Abkhazia’s security and the creation of all the necessary conditions for border and socio-economic cooperation with Russia, but there can be no preconditions for the so-called associative relations,” Hajimba, who formerly served as the country’s vice president and prime minister, said.
Associated statehood can exist between two nations with the minor partner, maintaining its sovereignty and independence, but at the same time giving up a major part of its authoritative powers to the larger country. The areas most affected by these free association agreements are usually foreign policy and defense.
According to Hajimba, Abkhazia needs to focus on fortifying its southern border and broadening cooperation with Russia, especially in light of the recently signed EU-Georgia Association Agreement.
Abkhazia broke away from Georgia, following an ethnically tinged war in 1992-1993, just after the collapse of the Soviet Union, declaring independence in 1999. Russia formally recognized the province as an independent state in 2008, after a brief war with Tbilisi over another disputed Georgian region, South Ossetia.
In May, a political conflict broke out between Abkhazia’s ruling government and opposition movements. Crowds of anti-government protesters seized administrative buildings in the Abkhaz capital Sukhum. Abkhazia’s parliament elected its spokesperson Valery Bganba as interim president after Aleksandr Ankvab resigned on June 1.
Early presidential elections are to be held in the country on August 24, with four candidates running for the post. Hajimba is currently in the lead, with 51 percent of voters ready to support him, according to a recent poll conducted by the Russian Institute of Social Marketing.
