A P P E A L

 

to peoples, parliaments and governments of countries of the world

 

 

            We, delegates and guests of the V-th World Congress of Abkhaz-Abazian (Abaza) people held on 15-16 December, 2006 in Sukhum, the capital of the Republic of Abkhazia:

 

            -in great respect for the principles of international law;

 

            -recognizing the right of nations to self-determination;

 

            -considering alien to the human nature the domination of some peoples over the others;

 

            -rejecting any violation as the way of forcing people to live according to the laws imposed from outside;

 

            - with the strong belief that only the Abkhaz statehood may secure the existence of Abkhaz nation and the representatives of other nations living in our country at present and in future;

 

            -on behalf of all Abkhazians and Abazins living on their historical Motherland and those ones scattered throughout the planet

 

are sending our appeal to all peoples, parliaments and governments of countries of the world with the request to recognize the state sovereignty   of the Republic of Abkhazia.

 

            The statehood of Abkhaz nation counts 1200 years of practically consistent history. Centuries-old struggle of Abkhazians for freedom and independent existence resulted in the formation of Abkhaz kingdom in the VIII-th century. And later on we had to go through hard ordeals and wars imposed to us by other countries. Time and again we were exposed to numerous military attacks only because of the fact that on God's sacred will we had the privilege to reside in one of the most fascinating places of the world, comfortably situated in between beautiful Caucasian mountains and the sky-blue Black Sea littoral. In the course of many centuries the Abkhaz nation numerously found itself at the edge of annihilation, like many other countries having disappeared from the historical and political map of the World. Despite all the dramatic ordeals, the Abkhaz nation could find enough energy and force to preserve itself, being able to outlive the Great Empires striving for the world dominion.

 

            Through centuries Abkhaz-Abazian (Abaza) people could preserve their identity and cultural considerations, traditions and rich figurative language which is a significant contribution to the world civilization. In their spiritual traditions people of Abaza can gainfully combine traditional religion.  Islam and Christianity which only makes them closer and consolidates them. Since the antiquity our nation has been involved in the historical processes happening in the Mediterranean, Europe and Middle East. Numerous monuments of architecture, art and epical works represent the best proof for that.

 

            XIX-th century became a real time for hard challenges for Abkhaz nation. Aspiration for abolishment of the Abkhaz Princedom which was integrated into the Russian Empire as an autonomous state, gave rise to a conflict resulting in the violent repression of the Abkhaz popular uprising and the major part of Abkhazians had to leave their Motherland. The Abkhaz Princedom did not exist any more and the very name of Abkhazia appeared from time to time only as a geographical term. Abkhazians and Abazians finding themselves away from their historical Motherland could manage to preserve their customs and traditions, national self-consciousness and the language. With their conceptions of heroism, chivalry and honor they could never stay away from participating in questions of vital importance for countries which had given refuge to them. The names of many and many distinguished statesmen, great enlightens and courageous commanders of Abkhaz origin are respectfully engraved with golden letters on the history of these countries. And today also no matter which country they live in, accepting it as a second motherland Abkhazians and Abazians live in full harmony with its national interests just willing these countries and nations take the same interest in the fortune of their historical Motherland.

 

            After the tragical mass displacement of the majority of aboriginal population Abkhazia could easily become a vulnerable loot for the neighboring Georgia  which had been a constant threat for the Abkhaz statehood and originality of the nation. Retrospective glance at the last 100 years' of Abkhaz-Georgian relationship strongly assures that the Georgian governing elite despite repeated changes of political regimes has always been very consistent in the policy of violence and treachery towards Abkhazia.

            After the collapse of the Russian Empire the Mensheviks guidance of Georgia was hastened to perform aggression against Abkhazia which as usual ended up with a complete fail. National liberation movement of Abkhaz nation resulted the raise of Abkhaz statehood and in 1921 after the exile of Georgian occupants an independent Soviet Socialist Republic of Abkhazia was proclaimed. But just in 10 years' time on the powerful will of Stalin and Beria Abkhazia was forcefully integrated into the Georgian SSR which motivated the 1st mass political action of Abkhazians at Soviet times.

 

            Later on the Communist guidance of Georgia performed a severe genocide against Abkhaz nation, which was expressed through the complete annihilation of national elite, closure of Abkhaz schools, mass implantation of Georgian population to Abkhazia, total misrepresentation of geographical names, falsification of the history. Abkhazians could never submit this policy and represented the only nation within the Soviet Union which in fact every decade performed mass actions of protest with political claims.

 

            Never ever Abkhazia was an integrated part of Georgia rather then during the Soviet times. Rejecting it's communist past this country couldn't have any pretensions for Abkhazia which was offered to them as a gift exactly at the times of Stalin totalitarian  regime. More than that  making a historical grounds for this unprecedented fact of injustice, Georgians could manage to convince the World Community in their rightness..

 

            Under the false slogan of protecting " the territorial integrity" a bloody war was unleashed in 1992 which ended up with exile of Georgian occupational troops from the territory of Abkhazia. A multinational country of Abkhazia with the support of brotherhood peoples of the North Caucasus and South regions of Russia, representatives of numerous Abaza-Adyg diasporas  up in arms  confirmed their undutiful right for independent, free political and economical existence.

 

            Despite all the problems and challenges which Abkhaz-Abaza people had to go through at the times when they were a part of the Russian Empire and later of the Soviet Union, this nation has always been  grateful to the Russian nation for understanding and support while undergoing a severe ordeal, grateful to progressive-minded intelligentsia, having created all conditions for appearance of a written language, national schools, education, for development of the culture thus promoting the preservation of ethnic identity of our nation. And today also it is precisely Russia and its strong position that lets Abkhazia stand in counterbalance against   Georgian nationalism which never recognizes equality and equivalence of nations. In the conditions when Georgia doesn't give up the idea to force its will to our nation we can rely only on the fair policy of Russia based on the international law and aspiration for peaceful co-existence and collaboration with different nations and cultures

 

            .Our nation together with the numerous Diaspora residing in 45 countries of the world is sincerely thankful to the government of the Russian Federation in the person of the president Vladimir Putin for their active, unambiguous position towards Abkhazia, for being ready to secure its safety, for the understanding of the need to recognize the state independence. It's not accidental at all that Abkhazia appealed precisely to Russia with the proposal to establish associated relationships which would carry the guarantee for preserving its independence and economical prosperity. We hope that with time being other countries and 1st of all-countries resided  by Abaza-Adyg diasporas would accept the same fair approach to Abkhazia, the country striving for the realization of its inalienable right for self-determination.

 

            For already 13 years now our country has been independent de facto. The country is building up its statehood in complete accordance with universally recognized democratic principles which is an important factor for the stability in the region. The world has to understand and accept that Abkhazians represent a self-dependent  nation living on its territory. And the name for this territory is Abkhazia deserving the same rights for its statehood as any other nation of the world. Abkhazians never infringe on anybody's territory. We are against the war, there were too many in our history, costing hundreds of thousands of lives of our people. But together with that we state that our nation will never change the course targeting the independent statehood and in case there is a new military threat, no matter where Abkhazians and Abazians reside they will stand to defend their Motherland.

 

            We hope that all the nations, parliaments and governments of the countries of the world will accept and understand our aspiration for living in independent, recognized by the International Community country which will become the guarantee for preservation of the Abkhaz ethnos and safety of its residents.

 

            We envisage our future in friendly relationships with all the countries of the world!

            We conceive our happy life among happy nations!

 

                                                                                 

                                                                                              Republic of Abkhazia, Sukhum

                                                                                              15 December, 2006