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Mamuka Areshidze: Need to Consider Recognition of Abkhaz Independence
Mamuka Areshidze:
“We have to take extraordinary measures in order to return not Abkhazia, but to return Abkhazians… If we want to return Abkhazians, we should save them,” Areshidze said.
“Return of Abkhazians will be impossible if we leave them in the situation in which they currently are. Russia is vigorously changing demographic landscape of Abkhazia."
He said that Russia’s policy of encouraging its military personnel serving in Abkhazia and their families to stay in the region after end of service would further change the demographic situation by decreasing already diminished share of ethnic Abkhazians.
He said that independence for Abkhazia should not in any way be unconditional and it should be linked to set of preconditions, including return of refugees and internally displaced persons.
“I am not saying that we should directly give Abkhazia independence and put an end on that. We should put forth preconditions in the context of giving independence, for example return of refugees,” Areshidze said and added that by recognizing Abkhaz independence Tbilisi will distance Sokhumi from Moscow.
“That would be the only way for us to speak with the Abkhazians in presence of the international community without Russia,” Areshidze said.
“I want to say one thing: the time of traditional approaches is over. Our adversary, which has very strong political, diplomatic, as well as military resources, outdistances us in every way. So we have to make such a surprise move which will disarm our adversary – that means the move which will distance our adversary from the Abkhazians,” he said.
The case of South Ossetia is different, Areshidze said."
Civil Georgia
“We have to take extraordinary measures in order to return not Abkhazia, but to return Abkhazians… If we want to return Abkhazians, we should save them,” Areshidze said.
“Return of Abkhazians will be impossible if we leave them in the situation in which they currently are. Russia is vigorously changing demographic landscape of Abkhazia."
He said that Russia’s policy of encouraging its military personnel serving in Abkhazia and their families to stay in the region after end of service would further change the demographic situation by decreasing already diminished share of ethnic Abkhazians.
He said that independence for Abkhazia should not in any way be unconditional and it should be linked to set of preconditions, including return of refugees and internally displaced persons.
“I am not saying that we should directly give Abkhazia independence and put an end on that. We should put forth preconditions in the context of giving independence, for example return of refugees,” Areshidze said and added that by recognizing Abkhaz independence Tbilisi will distance Sokhumi from Moscow.
“That would be the only way for us to speak with the Abkhazians in presence of the international community without Russia,” Areshidze said.
“I want to say one thing: the time of traditional approaches is over. Our adversary, which has very strong political, diplomatic, as well as military resources, outdistances us in every way. So we have to make such a surprise move which will disarm our adversary – that means the move which will distance our adversary from the Abkhazians,” he said.
The case of South Ossetia is different, Areshidze said."
Civil Georgia
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Kars (Türkei): Das Denkmal für die toten Armenier wird abgerissen
"Für den türkischen Premier Erdogan ist es ein "Monstrum": Das Denkmal für die Armenier in Kars soll fallen – bis zum Gedenktag des Genozids.
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Der Abriss des Denkmals bedeutet einen Schritt rückwärts in der seit einigen Jahren eingeleiteten Versöhnungspolitik zwischen den beiden Ländern, die viel Fingerspitzengefühl verlangt. Mehmet Aksoy versteht seine Doppelstatue deshalb weniger als Erinnerung an die türkischen Verbrechen denn als Geste der Versöhnung. Das Bild des zweigeteilten Menschen soll als Appell wirken, die beiden Hälften der zerrissenen Erinnerung wieder zusammenzufügen, um sich mit der gemeinsamen (Unheils-)Geschichte auszusöhnen.
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Als eine Gruppe türkischer Intellektueller im Dezember 2008 eine Unterschriftenkampagne startete, mit der sich türkische Bürger für den Völkermord an den Armeniern entschuldigen konnten, zeterte Erdogan, diese Kampagne sei "kontraproduktiv" und mit den außenpolitischen Interessen der Türkei nicht zu vereinbaren. Die Aussöhnung mit dem kleinen Nachbarn Armenien hat im Machtkalkül der aufstrebenden Regionalmacht offenbar keinen Stellenwert. "
Quelle: Welt online
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Der Abriss des Denkmals bedeutet einen Schritt rückwärts in der seit einigen Jahren eingeleiteten Versöhnungspolitik zwischen den beiden Ländern, die viel Fingerspitzengefühl verlangt. Mehmet Aksoy versteht seine Doppelstatue deshalb weniger als Erinnerung an die türkischen Verbrechen denn als Geste der Versöhnung. Das Bild des zweigeteilten Menschen soll als Appell wirken, die beiden Hälften der zerrissenen Erinnerung wieder zusammenzufügen, um sich mit der gemeinsamen (Unheils-)Geschichte auszusöhnen.
...
Als eine Gruppe türkischer Intellektueller im Dezember 2008 eine Unterschriftenkampagne startete, mit der sich türkische Bürger für den Völkermord an den Armeniern entschuldigen konnten, zeterte Erdogan, diese Kampagne sei "kontraproduktiv" und mit den außenpolitischen Interessen der Türkei nicht zu vereinbaren. Die Aussöhnung mit dem kleinen Nachbarn Armenien hat im Machtkalkül der aufstrebenden Regionalmacht offenbar keinen Stellenwert. "
Quelle: Welt online
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U.S. State Department: Freedom of Speech and Press in Georgia
on print media:
" During the year print media frequently criticized senior government officials. However, some individuals affiliated with these papers reported facing pressure, intimidation, and violence for doing so. Few newspapers were commercially viable. Patrons in politics and business typically subsidized newspapers, which were subject to their influence."
on tv-broadcasts:
"The International Research and Exchanges (IREX) Board's media sustainability index report for the year stated that "the ruling elite" exercised significant influence over the primary news companies to "shape the national narrative" and again raised concerns that the majority of media outlets remained split along political fault lines."
"The IREX Board's Media Sustainability Index for the year noted that national television stations rarely broadcast investigative stories. TI/Georgia's November 2009 report raised similar concerns. Rustavi 2, Imedi, and the GPB did not produce investigative reports."
on press-freedom:
"There were reports of direct physical attacks, harassment, and intimidation of journalists by government officials."
"There also were reports of attacks on journalists by nongovernmental actors."
on separatist regions (Abkhazia, South Ossetia):
"Media in the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia remained tightly restricted by the de facto authorities and Russian occupying forces."
on freedom of assembly:
"The constitution and law provide for freedom of assembly; however, there were concerns about provisions in the law. During the year authorities permitted demonstrations; of the few large protests, most, but not all, were held without incident."
Read the full article at FINANCIAL / FINCHANNEL
" During the year print media frequently criticized senior government officials. However, some individuals affiliated with these papers reported facing pressure, intimidation, and violence for doing so. Few newspapers were commercially viable. Patrons in politics and business typically subsidized newspapers, which were subject to their influence."
on tv-broadcasts:
"The International Research and Exchanges (IREX) Board's media sustainability index report for the year stated that "the ruling elite" exercised significant influence over the primary news companies to "shape the national narrative" and again raised concerns that the majority of media outlets remained split along political fault lines."
"The IREX Board's Media Sustainability Index for the year noted that national television stations rarely broadcast investigative stories. TI/Georgia's November 2009 report raised similar concerns. Rustavi 2, Imedi, and the GPB did not produce investigative reports."
on press-freedom:
"There were reports of direct physical attacks, harassment, and intimidation of journalists by government officials."
"There also were reports of attacks on journalists by nongovernmental actors."
on separatist regions (Abkhazia, South Ossetia):
"Media in the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia remained tightly restricted by the de facto authorities and Russian occupying forces."
on freedom of assembly:
"The constitution and law provide for freedom of assembly; however, there were concerns about provisions in the law. During the year authorities permitted demonstrations; of the few large protests, most, but not all, were held without incident."
Read the full article at FINANCIAL / FINCHANNEL
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