Belarusian MPs: “We are ready for cooperation with Abkhazian Parliament”

A group of the unrecognized Belarusian “parliament” had a meeting in Sukhumi with members of the parliament of the unrecognized republic of Abkhazia.

A process of Abkhazia’s recognition is irreversible, the country’s speaker Nuzgar Ashuba said. “We do not hurry and do not hurry anybody. We have been struggling for independence not for some time, for two, three, or ten years. We have been struggling for independence forever,” he added.

As Interfax news agency reports, the speaker noted Abkhazia would like Belarus to recognize their independence. He emphasized: “Every country has own national interests which come before everything for people’s representatives. If the Belarusian parliament is guided by these ideas and delays consideration of Abkhazia’s recognizance, we’ll understand this.”

Ashuba also reminded that Belarus was the only country at the CIS summit that hadn’t signed the document on economic blockade of Abkhazia in 1997.

Mikhail Rusy, the head of standing commission of the “house of representatives” of the “national assembly” on Chernobyl disaster consequences, ecology and environmental management, said that Belarus is interested in closer ties with Abkhazia.

“Our parliament has groups on cooperation with 43 states. I think a group on cooperation with the parliament of Abkhazia can be formed,” Rusy said.

According to him, an objective report would be made by the parliamentary group and presented to the parliament, government, and Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

The MP group arrived in Abkhazia on Tuesday and plans to stay there until November 20.

As Rusy said on Wednesday at a meeting with Abkhazian foreign minister Sergei Shamba, the visit of the Belarusian MPs was aimed at “establishing inter-parliamentary relations, studying the economic situation in the republic and an opportunity to recognize the Republic of Abkhazia in respect of the parliament’s request.”

As the press service of the Abkhazian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports, Shamba noted the country was interested in “development of the bilateral ties between Belarus in all areas”.

“The minister thanked the MPs for the visit to Abkhazia and expressed a hope for early recognition of Abkhazia by Belarus,” the MFA press service informs.

The parliamentary group is to have a meeting with president of Abkhazia Sergei Bagapsh on Wednesday evening.