Election Results

Yesterday, on the third anniversay of Russia's recognition of Abkhazia's independence, Aleksandr Ankvab was elected President of the Republic of Abkhazia.  Mr. Ankvab received 54.86% of the vote.  His rivals, Sergey Shamba and Raul Khajimba, received 21.04% and 19.83%, respectively. Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev has already called Mr. Ankvab to congratulate him on his victory.  

The election saw a strong turnout, with 71.92% of eligible voters participating.  I visited several polling stations in Novy Afon and Sukhum.  Also, I spoke to observers from the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Russia and other nations.  Polling was well organized and the voting was characterized as free and fair.

As the news spread late last night of the result in Mr. Ankvab's favor, Sukhum was calm and peaceful.  A few supporters spread through town with Abkhaz flags attached to their cars and others could be heard toasting to Abkhazia's future.  Abkhazia, although small, is clearly both independent and democratic.  The maturity of democratic institutions in Abkhazia should serve as model to others in the Caucasus Region.  Congratulations!!

Sukhum at Sunset- Election Day, August 26, 2011

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U.S. Meddling

There have been reports in recent months of several nations considering recognizing Abkhazia and/or South Ossetia.  This is interesting and not an entirely unexpected development considering that Abkhazia meets the objective and self-imposed standards that many nations have set.  

I have been following the news reports and reading other sources of information.   What is disturbing about this and about Vanuatu's recent recognition (and numerous changes of heart) of Abkhazia is the degree of arm-twisting and medding that American diplomats have apparently resorted to in an effort to prevent this from happening.  All nations should be free to conduct their own foreign policy and the US is certainly free to express its opinion. However, the degree of pressure and manipulation that is being reported in foreign capitals around the world dismays me as an American citizen.   Read Wayne Madsen's excellent article about Washington, Canberra and Auckland spying and manipulating in Vanuatu and the South Pacific.  (Vanuatu even caught an Australian spy copying documents!)  It has been an unseemly and disgusting display. Especially when one hears reports of American diplomats acting extremely undiplomiatically. 

Also, this raises the question in my mind of why the U.S. is willing to go to such extreme lengths to oppose statehood for South Ossetia and Abkhazia.  I am well aware that the U.S. regards Georgia as an ally, but the degree of effort and pressure being expended to prevent recognition does not seem commensurate with the situation in the Caucasus or the relationship with Georgia.   It is unseemly for the leadership of one nation, Georgia, to constantly use the diplomats of another, the U.S., for its own ends.  And embarassing for both parties.

As an American, I believe in fair play.  Where is the American sense of fair play here?  It seems that even if the U.S. disagrees with independence, fair play dictates that every nation makes its own decisions.   Lobbying For the American position may be appropriate, but even that activity must have limits.  The strength of the U.S. opposition to recognition seems only one step removed from the diplomatic opposition if another nation was on the verge of acquring nuclear weapons. The U.S. actions suggest that the State Department can not imagine another side to Georgia's argument (it is hard to believe they are not at least aware of the historical and cultural reasons for Abkhazia's independence).

Shevardnadze and Abkhaz Recognition

Recently, the former President of the Republic of Georgia has come out in favor of the Georgian recognition of Abkhaz sovereignty.  Lest anyone think this is simply the ramblings of a disgruntled leader no longer in power, it should be recalled that Shevardnadze was President of Georgia and ordered the invasion of Abkhazia in 1992.  More recently,Shevardnadze has said that he regrets the decision and that it was a mistake.  He recently stated that Abkhazia will never become a part of Georgia and the best possible solution was to recognize Abkhazia and normalize relations.  Predictably, he was accused in Georgia of a lack of patriotism and compared unfavorably to a Nazi.  Shevarnadze's comments followed those of the noted expert on Georgia, Mamuka Areshidze, who has said that Georgia should recognize Abkhazia.

Vanuatu Recognizes Abkhazia!!

Tuesday, May 31 in Port Vila, the Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu formally announced that it recognized the Republic of Abkhazia as an independent state.  

The Republic of Vanuatua, formerly known as the New Hebrides, became independent in 1980 from joint British and French rule.  Vanuatu has a population of approximately 243,000 in an archipelago of 65 inhabited islands that range about 800 miles from north to south in the Pacific Ocean about 1,000 miles off the northeast coast of Australia and west of Fiji.  The nation pursues an independent foreign policy and believes that Abkhazia has the right of self-determination.

Vanuatu will likely be only the first of many smaller nations to recognize Abkhazia in the coming months.  The news follows the sad announcement Sunday of the death of Abkhazia's President, Sergey Bagapsh, in Moscow. But it also shows that Vanuatu's recognition is not tied to any one leader in Abkhazia, but to Abkhazia itself and the course of independence and development the nation has set.

For those who question how the recognition of Abkhazia by Vanuatu was achieved, it was strictly through diplomatic efforts.  Congratulations to the Republic of Abkhazia on this important step!