Abkhazia refuses from taking part in Geneva debates

Abkhazia will not take part in the fifth round of Geneva debates planned to be held on May 18-19. This was stated by Sergey Shamba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia.

"We initially linked our participation in Geneva debates with the UN's approach to the status of our republic. In the past, when the status was unrecognized, annual reports on situation in Abkhazia of the UN Secretary General contained the formulation 'Georgia-Abkhazia'. This time we've agreed that on May 15, when the report is to be made public, we'll receive it; however, we don't have it till now," said Mr Shamba.

"Now, they promise to give the report to us on May 18, on the day of debates. However, in view of time difference, it'll turn out that the debate is on, but we are still with no report in hand. I see it as an obvious trick. Therefore, the Abkhazian delegation won't go to Geneva for taking part in another round of debate," the "Gazeta.Ru" quotes Mr Shamba as saying.

The part of the Abkhazian delegation, which took part in events held by the Abkhazian Diaspora in Turkey and Germany, has already left for Geneva. "But they'll wait for our decision, but the other part of the delegation, which goes from Moscow, was ordered to come back," the "Interfax" quotes Mr Shamba.