Tengiz Dzhopua: "No Issue with Abkhazia's Palestine Diplomacy"
Tengiz Dzhopua: "No Issue with Abkhazia's Palestine Diplomacy"
Foreign Minister of Abkhazia, Inal Ardzinba, stated in a Public Council meeting that discussions are underway regarding the potential establishment of diplomatic relations between Abkhazia and Palestine. Tengiz Dzhopua, a public figure, shared his insights on this development with "Ekho Kavkaza."
― Tengiz, in discussing the establishment of diplomatic relations between Abkhazia and Palestine, are we referring to the State of Palestine with Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah or the Gaza Strip under the control of Palestinians and Hamas?
Tengiz Dzhopua: I firmly believe that we should not entertain any relations with Hamas. Hamas is a terrorist organisation that employs methods of terror, which are inherently unacceptable, regardless of their justification. I am referring to a unified Palestinian state — a concept that might materialise in the future — but not Hamas. Their actions do not represent the national liberation struggle of the Palestinian people; it is simply terrorism. Even if it were classified as guerrilla warfare, it would be beyond the pale due to the violence inflicted upon civilians, including abhorrent acts against innocent people and children. Such behaviour is indefensible. We cannot engage with entities that partake in terrorism. Should we then consider relations with the Taliban or ISIS next? The Middle East has no shortage of such groups. It would also tarnish our reputation as a sovereign state. We must not sway towards any radical extremes. The establishment of international relations requires a legal and civilised approach, which applies to both foreign and domestic policy. And I see nothing problematic about the desire to establish diplomatic relations with Palestine. Ideally, this should occur alongside active outreach to Israel and other nations, not just in the Middle East. I view any diplomatic initiative in this area positively.
The ongoing conflict is deeply tragic, with casualties on both sides. My sympathies extend to all affected. The dire circumstances faced by the Palestinian people since the 1940s are largely due to the failure of the Powers that created the State of Israel without properly delineating borders between Israelis and Arabs. This longstanding unresolved issue has caused countless deaths over several decades...
International Circassian Association Statement on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
NALCHIK ― The International Circassian Association has released a statement concerning the escalating situation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict zone.
Endorsed by associated associations and federations, and circulated on social media platforms, the statement reads:
"As the global community observes the intensifying conflict between Palestinians and Israelis with grave concern, we are deeply troubled by the daily loss of innocent lives, including those of defenceless children, women, and the elderly.
The ongoing inhumane blockade on the Gaza Strip has exacerbated the plight of its citizens, leaving them without essential supplies such as food, water, medicine, and access to electricity and fuel.
In solidarity with all peace-seeking individuals, we are closely monitoring the developments in the Middle East and share a profound empathy for the affected civilians, bearing the weight of their tragedy in our hearts.
First State Television: Abkhaz TV Marks 45 Years
SUKHUM / AQW'A ― On November 6, 2023, Abkhazian State Television celebrates its 45th anniversary. This occasion prompts a look back at the history and evolution of the republic's first state channel and the contemporary challenges it faces.
It was on November 6, 1978, that the residents of Abkhazia first heard the voice of Boris Adleyba, the First Secretary of the Abkhazian Regional Committee of the Communist Party of Georgia, emanating from their TV screens.
"Dear comrades! Today, the television of the Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic begins its operation," he announced, thus marking the inception of the Abkhazian state television and radio broadcasting.
History of Formation
The inaugural broadcast was brief yet historic. Following Adleyba's opening speech, a forty-minute documentary titled "Soviet Abkhazia" aired, succeeded by a concert lasting an hour and a half, featuring performances by state choreographic ensembles, vocalists, pop bands, and children's groups.
On the very next day, the station broadcast its first news reports—coverage of the demonstrations commemorating the Great October Socialist Revolution, captured on Portable Television Systems (PTS).
The channel's flagship program, "Amsheikushara," still runs daily, bringing the main news of the day to the republic's citizens. This program's title, conceived by Raul Lasuria, a TV station employee, is now a household name across the republic.
New Mobile App Launched for Learning Abkhaz Language
SUKHUM / AQW'A ― The Ministry of Education of Abkhazia has announced the development of a complimentary mobile application designed to facilitate the learning of the Abkhaz language, as reported by their press service.
The ministry highlighted that the initiative received backing from the Moscow Abkhaz diaspora and involved the expertise of specialists and educators from the Bagrat Shinkuba Charitable Foundation for the Development of the Abkhaz Language and the Capital School Centre.
The app, launched on the MyJo platform, offers comprehensive language learning tools suitable for both adults and children. It provides a range of capabilities, including the development of conversational skills, reading, listening comprehension, and proficiency in writing.
The development team was spearheaded by Vakhtang Tuzhba, a prominent member of the Board of the Moscow Abkhaz Diaspora.
Tuzhba emphasised that the primary objective of this digital endeavour is to offer a user-friendly and readily accessible approach for non-speakers to learn Abkhaz. Additionally, a significant aim is to champion the widespread adoption and appreciation of the native tongue.
Employing a learning algorithm similar to that of the renowned Duolingo platform, the application promises an engaging and effective educational experience.
The MyJo application is now available for download on both the AppStore and GooglePlay, inviting users to explore the richness of the Abkhazian language at their convenience.
Celebrated Conductor Yuri Temirkanov Passes Away at 84
The classical music world mourns the loss of Yuri Temirkanov (Kabardian: Темыркъан Хьэту и къуэ Юрий), the illustrious conductor whose life was a testament to the transformative power of music. Born on December 10, 1938, in the city of Nalchik, within the Kabardino-Balkaria Republic of Russia, Temirkanov rose from his Kabardian (Circassian) roots to command the world's stage with a baton steeped in cultural heritage and an unyielding passion for musical excellence.
Temirkanov's journey through music began in the shadow of World War II, a backdrop that set the stage for a life as poignant as the symphonies he would later conduct. His father, Khatu Temirkanov, a minister of culture, was executed in 1941 during the German invasion, leaving a young Yuri and his siblings to seek refuge in the Caucasus Mountains. Despite these early traumas, Temirkanov's destiny was irreversibly intertwined with music, having been a protege in the very house where Sergei Prokofiev composed "War and Peace."