Sergey Shamba and Vakhtang Kolbaia had online meeting: Perspectives from Both Sides
Sergey Shamba and Vakhtang Kolbaia held a unique 20-min online meeting, eliciting significant responses from both Georgian and Abkhazian sides.
SUKHUM / AQW'A ― In an online event, Sergey Shamba, Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Abkhazia, and Vakhtang Kolbaia, deputy of the Supreme Council of the so-called Abkhaz Autonomous Republic in exile, engaged in a direct, unprecedented 20-minute online dialogue. This rare engagement sparked widespread reactions in both Tbilisi and Sukhum, with both Georgian and Abkhazian sides actively commenting on the development.
The conversation critically addressed the origins of the longstanding armed conflict and potential pathways to its resolution. Sergey Shamba emphasised the indispensable role of dialogue, stating:
"I have spoken on this topic many times, and many in the Abkhaz society do not like my position, but I have always believed that if there is a problem, it must first be talked about. There are no peoples, whether neighbours, close, or even relatives, who have not fought each other at some point. All of Europe is an example of this. I have always supported people's diplomacy, and when I was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, our representatives often met with Georgian opponents. This was an opportunity to understand each other's positions. There is a conflict between our peoples, caused by many historical circumstances, especially the war, and to overcome this conflict, we need to talk and seek ways of mutual understanding and further coexistence.”
Vakhtang Kolbaia expressed his astonishment at the readiness of an official from Sukhum for dialogue, considering the potential backlash within parts of the Abkhaz society.
“We haven’t seen each other for 30 years, and frankly, I was surprised, knowing that he would attract the anger of many representatives of the Abkhaz society, although he has repeatedly publicly expressed similar thoughts. I don’t want to delve into conspiracy theories, that he was tasked with conducting a dialogue with me, I don’t think he coordinated it with anyone, but it was felt that he knew and was ready for the conversation in advance,” he said.
Abkhazia and Abu Dhabi Chambers of Commerce Sign Landmark Cooperation Agreement
SUKHUM / AQW'A ― In a landmark development for international economic relations, the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Abkhazia and Abu Dhabi have signed a significant cooperation agreement, marking a significant stride in strengthening bilateral trade and economic ties.
During her working visit to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tamila Mertskhulava, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Abkhazia, participated in the prestigious 'ADIFE 2023' (Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition), a key event in the global food industry calendar, hosted at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center. The exhibition, held under the esteemed patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of the Abu Dhabi Department of Agriculture and Food Safety.
Exposing Hypocrisy: Pashinyan's Contradictions on Soviet Legacies
SUKHUM / AQW'A ― Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently expressed his unwavering support for what he referred to the unity and state integrity of Georgia. With these statements in mind, let us read a few excerpts from an interview Pashinyan gave to Al Jazeera Television only 3 years ago.
"...Nagorno-Karabakh was handed over to Soviet Azerbaijan but not to Soviet Armenia as a result of Stalin’s arbitrary decision."
"As democratisation commenced in the Soviet Union, the Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh sought to regain their rights and reunify with the Republic of Armenia, but this move was met with brutal violence by the Soviet Union and Azerbaijan against the peaceful population..."
"If we adopt Azerbaijan's interpretation of international law, we should be able to say that Azerbaijan is part of the Soviet Union. But since there is no such state anymore, Azerbaijan cannot be part of the Soviet Union. Similarly, for the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region, Soviet Azerbaijan, of which it was once a part, no longer exists..."
If Mr. Pashinyan, contrary to what he says, is satisfied with Stalin's Soviet borders, he should either shut his mouth and resign or should have surrendered Karabakh and its people, whom he left all alone, to Azerbaijan much earlier. At least the people of Nagorno-Karabakh would have suffered less.
On some issues of ethnic identity and placement of the Abkhazians (Regarding the work of P. Ingorokva 'Giorgi Merchule'), by Ketevan Lomtatidze
E-Library
On some issues of ethnic identity and placement of the Abkhazians (Regarding the work of P. Ingorokva 'Giorgi Merchule')
აფხაზთა ვინაობისა და განლაგების ზოგიერთი საკითხის შესახებ: [რეც. წიგნზე: პ. ინგოროყვა „გიორგი მერჩულე“.)
Author: Ketevan Lomtatidze
Year: 1956
Place of Publication: Tbilisi
Published by: Mnatobi No:12
Number of pages: 8 [pp. 132-139.]
Language: Georgian
The Discovery of Circassia, by Samir Khotko
The Discovery of Circassia: Cartographic Sources from the 14th to the 19th Centuries
Открытие Черкесии: Картографические источники XIV–XIX вв.
Author: Samir Khotko
Year: 2015
Place of Publication: Maykop
Published by: Poligraf-Yug [Полиграф-ЮГ]
Number of pages: 292
Language: Russian
Esteemed Filmmaker and Author Mohydeen Quandour Dies at 85
SUKHUM / AQW'A ― Mohydeen Quandour, a prominent Circassian filmmaker and author, passed away peacefully in his sleep this morning. The news was shared by his wife, Luba Balagova, through a touching post on Facebook. Quandour, a distinguished figure in both the film and literary worlds, was 85 years old.
Luba Balagova mournfully announced the passing of her husband, describing him as her beloved "Mohy," her closest friend and partner. "Until we meet again my love, I will keep you in my heart until the end of my days. Thank you for being my loving husband and the father of my children Aleem Kandour and Kazbek Kandour," she wrote.
Born in 1938 in Amman, Jordan, Mohydeen Izzat Quandour's career was marked by a rich and diverse journey in the creative arts. His early career in the film industry began with advertising films at J. Walter Thompson and MPO studios in New York. Moving to Hollywood in the early seventies, Quandour made a significant impact with his work on television classics like "Mannix" and "Bonanza."
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