Circassians in Turkey give support to Abkhazia calling Georgia to peace
As Georgian government raised her threats for war against Abkhazia and
dispatched military troops to the border line, “The Friends of Abkhazia”
assembled front of the Consulate General of Georgia in Istanbul and
Embassy of Georgia in Ankara to
warn
Georgia “not to provoke war”.
Recently, Georgian Government’s raising her threats of military intervention against Abkhazia and dispatching military troops to the border line, generated war risk in the region again and also concerned the Abkhazian, Adyghean and other Circassian communities living in Turkey. After the first protest on May15th in front of Istanbul Consulate of Georgia, a second protest has been placed in Ankara.
“The Friends of Abkhazia” initiative issued a press statement and called for peace on 21th May 2008 in front of Embassy of Georgia in Ankara. The crowd, gathering around 12:00 am, urged Georgian Government to recognize Abkhazia’s independence and maintain good neighborhood with Abkhazia. In the press release, it was stated that: “Georgia carried out an armed intervention to Abkhazia with the purpose of occupation on 14th August 1994. After severe battles, which started with Abkhazian people’s resistance and lasted for more than a year, this occupation attempt was repulsed and defeated. This war caused great suffering for both Abkhazian and Georgian people. Abkhazia is an independent country since 30th September 1993, which marks the end of this war. This independence is and will be protected and defended by Abkhazian people, sister Northern Caucasian people and millions of Abkhazian, Adyghean and other Circassian people living in the diaspora.”
In the statement, it was emphasized that a new military intervention from
Georgia to Abkhazia will lead the region into a bigger war and a greater
fire and it was pointed out that “Georgia must give up her ambitions to
usurp Abkhazia’s historical, political and legal rights and abstain from
adventures which will draw the region into conflict again. Georgian
government must respect Abkhazia’s independence and acknowledge that this
independence will be defended at all costs”.
Approximately 200 participants and leaders of Circassian associations and
civilian initiative groups in Ankara and surrounding provinces accompanied
the statement with Abkhazian flags, banners and slogans. It was remarked
that Abkhazia is the legacy and sequel of a 5.000 year-old culture, a 1.500
year-old state and a 90 year-old republic. It was declared that:
“No one should doubt that we will protect this legacy to the end.
Abkhazia is not alone today as it was not alone yesterday. Northern Caucasus,
who witnessed wars, genocide and exile throughout her history, should now be
a region of peace and stability. Georgian government should use her power
and resources for her people’s welfare and improvement, instead of provoking
war. It must be remembered that the political and military leaders of
Georgia, who started the war with Abkhazia, were discharged because of the
high prices that the Georgian people had to pay as a result of their wrong
policies. We believe that Georgian people want peace and welfare and live
alongside Abkhazian people and state as two allies and neighboring countries.
With this firm belief, we are calling to the Georgian government: Learn from
the past; turn your face to peace, not to war.”
The crowd dispersed with applause and slogans.
- The Friends of Abkhazia
- Gürcistan Ankara'da da protesto edildi - Kafkas Dernekleri Federasyonu
-
Gürcistan elçiliði önünde eylem - Gerçek Gündem
Republic of Abkhazia
Abkhazians - Who
are they?
By
Y.N. Voronov
The Georgian-Abkhazian Conflict
By Alexander Krylov, The
Security of the Caspian Sea Region, Oxford University Press, 2001
The Georgian-Abkhazian Conflict: In Search of Ways out
By Viacheslav A. Chirikba, Leiden University, Netherlands
Abkhazia
is Abkhazia
By Stanislav Lakoba,
Central Asian Survey, vol. 14, no. 1
Abkhazia's
Liberation and International Law
By E. K. Adzhindzhal,
Sukhum, 2007
Abkhazian
Conflict: Nine Questions and answers
Andreas Andersen’s assertions and George Hewitt's responses
Georgian
Apologists (at home and abroad)
By George Hewitt, May 14,
2008
