Viacheslav A. Chirikba has been the representative of the Republic of Abkhazia to Western Europe since 1993. He completed his doctoral dissertation in 1986 at the Moscow Institute of Linguistics, USSR Academy of Sciences. From 1991 to 1996, Dr. Chirikba was a professor and research fellow at Leiden University, The Netherlands, where he authored a Doctoral dissertation on the History of West Caucasian Languages. In 1993-1994, he was a member of the Abkhaz delegation at the Georgian-Abkhaz peace negotiations in Geneva, and since 1993, he has been the Permanent Representative of Abkhazia to UNPO, The Hague. Dr. Chirikba is the author of numerous articles on the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict and has organized and participated in several conferences on the subject worldwide.
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Dr. Chirikba: Georgians are no enemy but friends in eternity
Friendship message to Georgians
Dr. Vyacheslav Chirikba, special representative of the Republic of Abkhazia for Europe, stated that Georgians are no enemy but can be friends in eternity. We are neighbours and nations can coexist in peace, the problem is with the current Georgian administration.
Dr. Chirikba was the conference speaker at an occasion organized by Kafkas Vakfi 'The Caucasus Foundation' of Istanbul on 22 November. The conference named 'European perspective of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict' stressed the importance of friendship between the peoples of North Caucasus and crystallized that mischief sowers won't be succsessful at Caucasus.
Dr. Chirikba stated that he is commissioned by the Abkhazian President Ardzinba, for UN Geneva talks in December 1993 and continues the mission of Abkhazia to the States and their agencies at Europe. British and Dutch governments are informed of the developments. 'As plenipotentiary of Abkhazia, I have contact with every interested country,' stated Dr.Chirikba.
"Defacto independent and democratic"
'Abkhazia is a North Caucasian nation and is the only one who declared its defacto independence and have talks with Georgia, Russia and USA as an independent state.' 'Have talks with Georgia with UN mediation.' The Abkhazian side and the Georgian side participate as co-equal parties in the context of negotiations. The United Nations plays a dual role in the post-conflict situation: political peace process and the observer mission, which is tasked to monitor and verify compliance with the Moscow Agreement as well as observe the operations of the CIS peacekeeping force. The UN's engagement also covers the safe, secure and dignified return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their places of previous permanent residence in Abkhazia.
"Associate membership" with Russia
Mr. Anri Jergenia, The Abkhazian Premier on 14 October 2001, proposed 'associate membership' with Russia: Mr. Jergenia clarified that the intention is not to enter the Russian Federation as a federative subject; instead the new relationship with Russia would rather amount to a confederative model. Mr. Jergenia also indicated that such an arrangement would not be in contradiction with the Abkhazian Constitution, because its independence will remain intact and possibly become a member of the United Nations Organization and other international organizations.
"Prospects for settlement"
Prospects for settlement based upon the most recent events in the upper Kodor valley: The Abkhazian leadership makes it very clear that it is premature to talk about any political dialogue, as long as troops of the Georgian Ministry of Defence are stationed, in violation of the 1994 Moscow Agreement, in the upper Kodor valley in Abkhazia.
*Dr. Vyacheslav Chirikba, teaches at University of Leiden, The Netherlands and lives in The Netherlands since year 1990. Is founder of IDICA Foundation at The Hague The Netherlands. IDICA-International Documentation and Information Centre for Abkhazia, aims the restoration of the cultural heritage of the Abkhazian people.
27.11.2001 Agency Caucasus |