Independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia has been Recognized by Russia!

The beginning of August, was marked with sorrow and loss as well as fear of war spreading to a wider region; after the attack of Georgian forces to Republic of South Ossetia. Many people fled from their homes, were killed in an unexpected heavy night attack on the 7th-8th and the fightings continued a while. Later, the Abkhaz troops moved to re-obtain their land (Kodor) that was invaded by Georgian forces 2 years ago illegaly and against all pacts and agreements.
They managed to win this victory.
The second part of August has been marked with celebrations of victory and last monday the Russian Duma, tuesday (26.08.08) the Russian president Medvedev recognized the independent status of two Republics: South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Celebrations of first official recognition was like a 3 day festival in Abkhazia, with a lot ofAbkhaz flags, accompanied by South Ossetian, Adyghe, Russian and even Confederation (1921) and Chechen flags.
Abkhazian president and people repeat they do not think of joining to Russia and Russia did not give them their independence! Abkhazia has been independent for 15 years and this 30th of September, being the Victory Day (15th) will be a great day since the 15 years of economic blockade is over this year and that with the recognition starting with Russia, people will have more power to make their lives better and to live in a fully democratic, independent country. The recognition of Abkhazia, is also a power for the recognition of Abkhaz statehood, language, culture and life style around the world- which the Georgians had tried to wipe for long.
Apsny Forever!
For photos on celebrations:
http://picasaweb.google.com/abkhaziadiary/Celebrations
http://picasaweb.google.com/abkhaziadiary/CossackConcert

Diaspora Awake!

Caucasian Diaspora in Turkey actively showing reaction to lack of true information in the Turkish media and doing protests against the Georgian government!
What they have done:
*There are several press relases up to now by the federation, associations, foundations etc.

9th August 2008- The Associations in Istanbul came together to judge what is to be done. They decided to establish a Crisis Committee for South Ossetia. The aim founding this Committee is try to organize humanitarian help for Southern Ossetia, inform the press, organize protest etc..

9th August 2008- Protest Against Georgia (Taksim Square-Istanbul-Organized by Jineps (Cuacasian) Newspaper).

10th August- The Caucasus- Ossetian Solidary Committe Founded (It is composed of 7 members- the Chairman is Remzi Yildirim- Who is also an Ossetian in Istanbul).

10th August- The information and press groups of the Solidarity Commitee is founded. There are several miss information in Turkish press and TV. They are talking about those who died like they are Georgians but there is no information about more than 2000 Ossettians who are assassinated during the war, we preapared a document and sent to all newpapers to be used)

11th August- Petition for South Ossetia is opened

13th August 2008- Two Protests and press releases have taken placein front of Georgian Embassy in Ankara and Consulate in Istanbul (In London a group will also decided to the the same yesterday)..Istanbul protest is organized by The Caucasus- Ossetian Solidary Committe, supported by all other organizations (Like the Friends of Abkhazia, The Caucasus Foundation, Abkhaz Cultural Association, The Caucasus Forum, all other organizations in Istanbul and volunteers). Almost 250 people were there. The police did not let the groups to cross the street but the group walked with South Ossetian and Abkhazian flags and the press release is read (slogans like , Peace in The Cuacasus, Independent Abkhazia and Ossetia, we do not want war in our motherlands, Stop Genocid in South South Ossetia etc). .Link: (It is Turkish but you may see the pictures) http://www.ajanskafkas.com/haber,19896,cerkesler_gurcistani_protesto_etti.htm.

Ankara protest is organized by The Caucasus Federation and Ossetian Forum.

End of clashes in Kodor

News arrived this morning that Abkhaz flag flies over Kodor region invaded by Georgians in 2006!
The fighting and clashes have come to an end!
Peace in Abkhazia! Peace in the World!
Long live Independent Abkhazia!!!

Abhazya ve Güney Osetya'nın bağımsızlığı tanınmalıdır!

Abhazya ve Güney Osetya'nın bağımsızlığı tanınmalıdır!

Geçtiğimiz hafta yaşanan olaylar, modern teknolojinin bile önüne geçen politikalar olabileceğini ve teknolojinin kısa sürede binlerce insanın hayatını almak, koca bir şehri yok etmek ve suçu bir başkasına atmak için yönlendirebileceğini gösterdi.

Yaşadığımız günlerde Kafkasya'nın de fakto yani uygulamada bağımsız cumhuriyetlerinden Güney Osetya'da büyük bir katliam yaşandı. Peki bu olaylarda suçlu kim? Daha doğru söylemek gerekirse en suçlu kim?

Bu katliamı yapanlar mı? Yani, elindeki, bu kadar kısa sürede nasıl geliştiği apaçık belli olan silah teknolojisini bir halk üzerinde denemeye cesaret bulan Gürcü askeri birlikleri mi? Ya da bu askeri birliklere katliam emri veren Gürcistan hükümeti mi? Yoksa bu hükümetin askeri güç ve politikalarına destek veren dış güçler mi? Hepsi de bu katliamın bir parçası değiller mi sizce?

Osetya'da Gürcü güçlerinin açtığı ateş sivilleri vurdu, Tsinkal şehrini tamamiyle yerle bir etti. Bizce katliamın asıl nedeni, Gürcistan hükümetinin, aralıktaki NATO toplantısına sözde toprak bütünlüğünü oluşturmuş olarak katılmak istemesidir. Rusya müdahale etmeseydi bu acımasız katliamın Abhazya'da da devam edeceği apaçık ortadadır. Sovyetler Birliği'nin dağılmasının ardından Gürcistan'ın silahlandırılmasına destek olan devletlerin, bu ülkenin elde ettiği silah ve askeri gücü öncelikle Abhazya ve Güney Osetya karşısında kullanacağını biliyor olmaları gerekir. O zaman, Gürcistan Hükümeti'ni silahlandıran devletler de, Güney Osetya katliamında Gürcistan Hükümeti kadar suçludur.

Planlanmış olduğu asker yoğunluğu ve silah gücünden belli olan Güney Osetya'daki katliamın tam anlamıyla bir etnik temizlik haline gelmemesi ve Abhazya'da da benzer bir durum yaşanmaması için, Rusya'nın, işgalci Gürcü birliklerine müdahalesi bir gereklilikti. Amerika ve İngiltere, insan haklarından ve insanların canlarından daha çok Gürcistan'ın -aslında hiç de gerçekçi olmayan- toprak bütünlüğüne önem verdiklerini göstererek bu katliama seyirci kalmışlardır.

Basın ise gözlerini gerçeklere kapatıp, internet yoluyla Osetya'dan direkt olarak ulaşan ve Oset Halkının dramını yansıtan gerçek görüntüleri kullanmak yerine, Gürcistan'ın işgalini haklı göstermeye çalışan yanlı görüntüleri yayınlamakta ısrar etmektedir. Şimdi sormak lazım, dünya kamuoyunun Güney Osetya'da ve Abhazya'da yaşananlarla ilgili doğru bilgi kaynaklarına ulaşmasını engelleyen hangi yasaklar ya da politikalardır?

SSCB'nin dağılmasının ardından, Gürcistan'ın üç farklı devlet başkanıyla yaşadığı üç farklı savaş, onun, dağılma sırasındaki sınırlarıyla hiç bir zaman tanınamayacağının, bu sınırlarla varolamayacağının kanıtıdır. Gürcistan ve diğer dünya ülkeleri, Abhazya ve Güney Osetya'yı tanımak zorundadır. Çünkü, yaşadığımız yüzyılda bu halkların hatta Gürcistan'ın, özgür ve güven içinde yaşayabilmesinin tek yolu budur.

The President addressed fellow citizens

The President addressed fellow citizens to protect calmness, vigilance and certified that the government of Abkhazia armed forces will make everything necessary to meet the requirements of the constitution of Republic Abkhazia.

10/08/2008 20:30 ABKHAZIA, SUKHUM
Automatic online translation- roughly corrected for untranslated words only!
Follow the president website for full translations to be published soon.

The respected compatriots!

I turn myself to you in connection with the last events. You know, what heaviest situation occurred in South Osetia as a result the new aggression of Georgia against our brothers.

Georgian army achieves genocide of the people of South Osetia by its inhuman, barbarous actions. After equaling from face of the earth the capital - Tskinval, having completely destroyed many ossetic villages, the leaders of Georgia bared its beast face.

All these days I am located on coupling constant with President Eduard Kokoty. The swiftly developing situation requires from us coordination of actions. Therefore, as you know, the Security Council of the country works in the nonstop regime.

In accordance with the existing understandings, Abkhazia undertook the number of the measures of diplomatic and military nature. The solution about the introduction into the zone of the limitation of the armaments of the subdivisions of Abkhazian army was accepted.

Against the background events in South Osetia sharply aggravated situation in the upper part of Kodor Gorge. In the recent days in this region the Georgian armed forces twice increased their contingent. In the gorge heavy combat technology and artillery installations of salvo fire was introduced.

This course of events required from me special actions. Therefore we accelerated taking the measures of military nature, which planned earlier.

You know about the solid position of Abkhazian management on Kodor Gorge. For two years we issued a call participants in the peaceful process to influence for Georgia so that she would derive her subdivisions, which are located in the upper part of Kodor Gorge in the disturbance of Moscow cease-fire agreement.

At my numerous encounters with the diplomats of the United States of America, Germany, the ambassadors of EU countries we imperatively required contributing to the fulfillment of all existing with the Georgian side understandings. This, first of all, concerned Kodor Gorge and conclusion with Georgia of agreement about [nevozobnovlenii] of military actions.

As you see, our calls to solve problems by peaceful means did not enjoy success. Despite the fact that the UN Security Council repeatedly required from Georgia fulfilling of Moscow agreement, official Tbilisi continued to ignore these calls.

We always confirmed our intention to free gorge from the Georgian military and marionette structures illegally located in it. And the ways of the peaceful permission of this problem at the same time persistently searched for, proposing different trade-off settlements.

However, last events in South Osetia and provocation from the Georgian side in the zone of the responsibility of peacemaking forces, and also nature of reaction to the South-Ossetian catastrophe of European and Western countries, their frank pro-Georgian position in the estimation of events, convinced us of the fact that the policy of double standards can be wrapped up for the Abkhazian people and the state by new tragedy.
We were convinced of the fact that in this situation the peaceful dialogue cannot have positive effect.

Based on this I accepted the solution about the beginning of the military phase of the permission of Kodor problem. The second day our aviation and artillery deliver impacts on the places for the dislocation of Georgian subdivisions.

In connection with the military provocations, which occurred the day before at night in the safety zone, the firing of Abkhazian posts from the Georgian side, accepted the solution about the introduction of the subdivisions of Abkhazian army into The Galski region, into the zone of the responsibility of collective peacemaking forces. About all our actions were notified and commanded by peacemaking forces, and the mission of United Nations.

During the complete understanding of the fact that this is the disturbance of Moscow agreement, we, nevertheless, was made this decision, since another output to us no one left.

I again repeat, that our actions are absolutely substantiated, they are directed toward providing of safety of people, Abkhazian state.

I signed edict about the partial mobilization and the introduction of martial law on the part of the territory of Abkhazia.

The parliament of republic approved this solution, and now are conducted the necessary organizational- mobilization works.

In this situation I call to the retention of calmness, vigilance even I certify, that the government of Abkhazia, armed forces will make entire necessary for your protection, for meeting of requirements of the constitution of republic Abkhazia”.

On Abkhazia

Sukhum, 09.08.08

Today, the day started with a call from a Russian woman asking for her son and husband having a holiday in Sukhum. She said their phone is not working, and asked me if it is peacefull in Abkhazia. I said everything is fine and peaceful, and life is just going as normal. She asked if there is electricty, I said yes we have everything, life is just as normal as it is.

Than I received news from a friend saying Abkhaz forces have moved in to upper- Kodor valley, that belonged to our territory but was invaded by Georgian troops in 2006 against the Nonaggression pact signed in Moscow in 2004. They have received two decisions by the UN but did not take their forces back. There were some information that the Georgians were bringing soldiers to this area and would attack Abkhazia. The Abkhaz forces, seeing Georgia will never solve the situation in peacefull ways and may attack fiercefully as she did to South Ossetia; have started taking the land that was rightfully theirs.

I left to the sea side. There was a military act taking place, necessary for territorial integrity of Abkhazia, but it would not stop me enjoying a restfull and sunny saturday by the sea coast. That was same for other people. (See the pics) Tourists and locallers all enjoyed the sun and the sea, some tourist were having fun with a boat game, kids were jumping from high ports, dolphins were jumping up and down in the open sea.

10.08.08

Today, the day started with tanks passing by our window, all the Abkhaz forces were being carried towards the Kodor region. People got out to watch the mobilization (mostly women). There was a meeting in the Mescid, and men came together to discuss meeting points in case of emergency. There were some ships sailing in the sea. Big ships. Some people said they arrived during the night. Later, I got a call from my aunt saying that navy was in Abkhazia and my cousin read it in the news. The same time I received the news that there were navy ships in the sea one street from my house, my cousin in Germany gave me the news. The information technology is amazing and it is interesting to see how this small community famous for spreading every word in minutes is small in distributing such an important information. We left for the sea side to swim, have a sun bath and see the ships. As usual, we were not the only ones. Than we had lunch with other friends, enjoyed a cup of tea and cake at the apra cafe on the port.

We could see the ships (protecting the gulf distributed like a crescent). Later there was some word going around if the ships had not arrived on time, Georgians would have did Sukhum the same thing they did to the South-Ossetian capital, Tskinval! Ofcourse, at times of uneasyness, many speculations turn around. Still, watching what they have done in Tskinval, to people, hospitals, city as a whole... That was possibilly true. Anyway, they say these ships are very protective and I am glad that the Russian peace keeping forces do not wait till the distraction of the city before they do their duty to protect our borders and people. (11.08.08-Note: The Georgian ships have really pushed Abkhazia's borders. The presidents site reported 4 Georgian war-ships. www.abkhaziagov.org)

There were two helicopters and a plane flying over the city. (11.08.08-There was an explanation about these in the morning news as well but could not catch it)

The tourists were enjoying the sea and sun, even in the view of the helicopters and ships. We went around the city and to the next district Gulripsh. The city was mostly green, since nearly all men went around with army clothes. They were saying the army cloth shops were emptied already! We saw at some points reserve forces waiting to take their place in the war if necessary. Women, priests, and elderly were with them, giving them support.

We had some more tea with other friends, and came back home to have access to the internet and to communicate with the outside world. Unfortunately, the internet was really too slow- slower than usual- and it was impossible to upload any photos in any way.Hoping to manage it tomorrow.

11.08.08

Have been to the sea side early in the morning, this time mainly to try to wi-fi (which I thought would be faster) that I registered on friday but did not manage to use yet. Could not see the signal again!.

Some people were already swimming and kids were running on the sea side in groups. That was an active morning as usual in Abkhazia.

I heard my friend's father have left with the forces yesterday, no news yet. Last night in the news there was information on two wounded from the Abkhaz forces. Hope there will be no more wounded and no martyr.

Just now on tv the president is addressing the Abkhaz nation (citizens).

Daily life in Abkhazia-08.08.08

Photos from Abkhazia- daily life continues without distraction.
People who have lived Georgian invasion and violence during the 92-93 war fear a new war.
Men and women, volunteer or take their places in reserve forces but daily life continues.
Tourists, go around with Abkhaz flagged tshirts, enjoy the sun and sea of wonderful Abkhazia.

http://picasaweb.google.com/abkhaziadiary/Sukhum_today