SUKHUM, February 9 (Itar-Tass) — “We will never use” the so-called “neutral passport” invented in Georgia, Abkhazian President Alexander Ankvab said on Wednesday at a meeting with the EU Ambassador to Georgia Philip Dimitrov.
Ankvab demonstrated Abkhazian passports to the EU ambassador. “The Abkhazian foreign passport meets all international standards, although it is not recognised yet in Europe and the rest of the world,” Ankvab said.
He reminded the ambassador that the leadership of Abkhazia after the war with Georgia in 1993 offered neutral UN passports to its citizens. “At that time Georgia was opposed to it, and today Russia has already extended a helping hand to us, and we do not need any other documents,” Ankvab said.
The President noted that “it’s possible to go blind from the brilliant ideas of international diplomacy, but few of them are suitable for Abkhazia.” “We are for equal dialogue and civilised relations,” he said.
The President noted that cooperation with the European structures is possible in the spheres of science, education, culture and business. However, the president stressed, “the Friends of Georgia should abandon the so-called ‘engagement without recognition’ idea.” “Don’t waste your time on it. One and the same tone and text of international diplomats cannot but surprise us. We are tired of such a diplomatic manner. If this continues, there is no point in a dialogue,” the president said.
He also reminded the EU ambassador that Georgia refuses to sign a peace agreement and at the same time is arming itself. “August 1992 was a logical continuation of the policies pursued by Georgia for decades. Today’s Abkhazia is not Abkhazia of 1992 or even of 2008,” the president said.
The Abkhazian president noted that the number of countries that will recognise Abkhazia will be increasing. “We have no problem in communication. We will develop ourselves, as well as with the help from Russia and other countries that support us,” Alexander Ankvab said.