Opposition hampers constructive dialog in Abkhazia — president

SUKHUM, July 22. /TASS/. Abkhazian opposition is blocking the launch of constructive talks, the press service of President Raul Khadzhimba said in response to the opposition’s appeal to convene a popular gathering.

"Opposition is employing every means to hamper the start of a constructive dialog suggested by the authorities and is making quite contrary statements in public, drawing the wool over people’s eyes," the document says. "In Thursday’s statement, the Amtsakhara party announced its intention to begin preparations for people’s gathering and defined it as ‘the last remaining means of pulling the state out of a profound political, social and economic crisis."

"The opposition’s intention to call on the people to convene (in public places) does not have any relation to their care for the state and population," the presidential statement said.

""The opposition has turned into revenge-seekers, who are trying to win back their positions and are not disdaining any methods," it said noting that a political consultative council reporting to the president had been established.

Political parties and public organizations have been invited to work there. "The opposition was loud by refusing to participate in its work, however," the document says.

Speaking about the coalition government the opposition was insisting on, the press service said that "it would happen as natural development of the country’s political system, in particular of political parties with seats in the parliament."

The presidential press service condemned as a lie the opposition’s statement that management of the Abkhazian state-run television company had refused to provide it with air time.

"The Abkhazian state-run television company fills the air without differentiating between political opinions of individuals, policies of political parties or public organizations," it said. "The Abkhazian television has the doors open to all movements. Moreover, opposition leaders were not once invited to speak on the air but they turned the invitations down."

On Tuesday, the opposition Amtsakhara party voted in favor of the gathering. The party’s chairman, Alkhas Kvitsiniya told TASS that the social, economic and political crises are on the surface in the country but the leadership does not get in contact with the opposition, does not intend to discuss a coalition government that would unite people and so people’s gathering should be convened.