Border Crossing

I have heard from several sources that the border crossing between Russia and Abkhazia will be rebuilt in the next several years.  This is welcome news to me and will be to the millions of tourists who are and will be crossing to enjoy Abkhazia's mountains and beaches.  The existing border crossing is swamped during the tourist season with waits of several hours for the tour buses and pedestrians crossing.  Last year, the passenger train between Adler, Russia and Gagra, Abkhazia reopened for service twice a day.  Ferry service will also ease the congestion.  But with more tourists coming to Abkhazia's, the improvements are necessary.

Sochi

The progress at the Olympic Village in Sochi has been very rapid.  The Village is near the beach, but a high speed rail is being built to connect it to the site of the Alpine events in Krasnaya Polyana.  When completed, it will take 25 minutes to travel between the two locations.  Krasnaya Polyana is also being constructed rapidly.  The entire valley is the site of many construction projects related to the Winter Olympics and tourism.  It is clear that Krasnaya Polyana will soon be a world class destination for winter sports enthusiasts.

Also, around the Olympic Village, Formula 1 Racing will be held starting in the summer of 2014.  At the same site, the Russians are building a new football stadium to accommodate the World Cup matches that will be held in Sochi.  There is a tremendous amount of activity and clearly the Russian government's efforts to bring major sporting events to Russia is spurring a lot of growth and development.

The Olympic Village is only a few kilometers from the border with Abkhazia.  As Tijuana and the beach zone south has developed due to its proximity to the American border, it is easy to foresee a similar pattern in Abkhazia,especially with its spectacular beauty.  It is very close to Sochi, which draws millions of Russian beach tourists and will soon host the Winter Olympics, Formula 1 Racing and World Cup Football.  

Weather and Views

Traveling up and down the coast this week, the views to the mountains were spectacular.  The weather was pleasant, also with days around 60 Fahrenheit (18 Celsius).  it is a pleasant drive from Sukhum along the beach and near the mountains to the border.

It is obvious that there is a need for infrastructure investment and that the tourists coming are overwhelming the facilities for them.  

I am sure that those who come will see that Abkhazia has spectacular mountains that tower over its subtropical beaches.  And it is just across the border from the site of the Olympic Village and Formula 1 Racetrack...

Foreigners in Abkhazia

I was just in Abkhazia this last week.  The number of Turkish businessmen and Turks of Abkhaz ancestry who are in Abkhazia is growing.  I was told there are about 100 living there now and in several cafes and restaurant, it is possible to watch Turkish television.  One place of business is selling tickets on Turkish Airlines.  They are not yet flying to Sukhum, but there is a lot of traffic through Sochi.  Of course, with Sukhum's much longer runway, it makes a great deal of sense to have flights in and out of Sukhum.  Sukhum is in an ideal position to be the hub for flights to and from Abkhazia and on to Central Asia and Russia.

Along with more Turkish citizens, there are more Turkish products being offered.  Right now there are a number of stores selling Turkish clothing as well as furniture and other consumer goods.  They are rushing to fill the void!

John McCain's Comments

Senator John McCain recommended last month that "Washington needed to deal with Russia more as the modest power it is, not the great power it once was.”  This is not an accurate characterization of Russia or its importance in the world.  Russia has about 145 million people and has the most mineral wealth and energy resources in the world. Russia also covers 1/7 the land surface of the world and has a sizable nuclear weapons arsenal.  Like Russia and its policies or not, it is a power.

 

At any rate, the US ought to be applying principles of justice and fairness in its dealings with all nations.  And it certainly should not be using its leverage to give the Russian government and people a feeling of insecurity. This only plays into the hands of anti-Americans and xenophobes who wish to turn Russia away from the United States and the West.  Russia and the United States are not enemies.  There is no ideological divide in systems like the one that caused the Cold War.  American foreign policy should not demonize Russia or try to create an enemy where none exists.

The backdrop for McCain's comments is his support for Georgia.  But it is not Russian but Georgian aggression in the Caucasus has been the cause for instability in the region.