Who Does The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi Represent? (Part 2)

I empathize with Abkhazia.  Like me, the Abkhaz are the subject of threats from Georgia, but for far longer and with deadly consequences.  Like with me, the U.S. Government does nothing to discourage these threats..  In fact, certain members of the US Senate would like to arm Georgia.  Add to that several invasions, genocidal comments from the Georgian military leadership and the loss of 4% of the population and you can see why they will never go back to Georgian control.  

The Georgian lobby in the U.S. is very strong and Abkhazia does not have one, so the other side of the story is never heard by the American Congress- a Congress which is doing Georgia's bidding by isolating Abkhazia and attempting to rearm Georgia.  Georgia's President has been selling the myth of victimization in Georgia to his own people and in Washington to the American Congress.  And no one is the better for it.  America gets stuck with the tab, Abkhazia is isolated, Russia is unfairly demonized, Georgia is fixated on a nation they will never again control and the region is less stable and prosperous than if the U.S. just took an honest look at the situation.

I have observed that most Abkhaz are very pro-American.  I am always struck by their friendliness to America when I travel there.  The usual comment is:  " America- super!" That is generous considering Senators John McCain and John Kyl want to arm the government of Georgia.  And given what the President of Georgia would like to do with those arms.

I have said that there is a great opportunity to spread American values of entrepreneurship, business ethics and democracy in the Caucasus. Where exactly?  In the only nation in the region that has had four free and fair Presidential elections,  the one with no political prisoners, the one with a free press, the one with an active political opposition- the Republic of Abkhazia.

Mr. Wingate's letter also mentions that Abkhazia is "occupied" by Russia and that it has "reported high levels of crime." This is false. Russia does not occupy Abkhazia.  There were Russian peacekeepers under a U.N. mandate on the ground in Abkhazia for about 15 years.  Only after Georgia repeatedly broke ceasefires and attacked Abkhazia and South Ossetia on numerous occasions, including in 2008, did Russia build protective bases in Abkhazia.  However, Russia does not occupy Abkhazia.- unless the U.S. is also occupying South Korea. Actually, Georgia is viewed much the same way in Abkhazia as North Korea is in South Korea:  militaristic, aggressive and eager to secure control of a country that wants no part of them.  The difference is that Abkhazia has a separate language and culture from Georgia.  And for much of the Soviet period, Georgian officials tried to extinguish that language and culture.

I first traveled to Abkhazia in 2006 and live in the country part of each month.  During the last 5 years, I recall having seen Russian soldiers twice. Once, they were repairing a road.  In the last 20 months, I have seen one Russian soldier.  You would think an occupational power would have a very visible military presence and be controlling the government.  But the Russians don't.  Abkhazia had an election 17 months ago and international observers characterized it as free and fair.  I have met Abkhaz leadership on many occasions and they set their own policy.  But Georgian government takes the line it is "occupied" and this is the line that the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi swallows and passes along uncritically. 

That is not surprising given that Wikileaks revealed that the US Embassy in Tbilisi accepted the Saakashvili government's accounts of its own behavior when it ordered the attack on South Ossetia in 2008.  That attack resulted in hundreds of South Ossetian civilian and Russian peacekeepers lives being lost.  The U.S. Embassy repeated the false claims the Georgian government made that South Ossetian forces had shelled Georgian villages before they attacked.  This was done without any independent confirmation and despite an observer from the Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe's stating  that Georgia had violated a cease fire.  

From the New York Times:  "The observers, in the heart of the conflict zone, did not report hearing or seeing any Ossetian artillery attacks in the hours before Georgia bombarded Tskhinvali. Rather, they reported to an American political officer that “the Georgian attack on Tskhinvali began at 2335 on Aug. 7 despite the cease-fire.”

Just after Georgia's invasion, U.S. Ambassador Tefft cabled the Bush Administration suggesting a coordinated response to those unsure of "Georgia's absolute innocence."

Although there is a new Ambassador in Tbilisi, apparently staff is just as uncritical of Georgian actions as before.  Mr. Wingate believes that Russia is occupying Abkhazia, that I should go to Georgia and allow Georgian officials to arrest and imprison me as they have others who travel to Abkhazia through Russia and that the employee who threatened to break my neck just "did not want me to be successful."

Even though the threats are from Georgia and Abkhazia is a safe place, the Abkhaz authorities have given me protection.  Contrast this with the American Embassy's reaction. 

Why is no one in the media looking into the cozy relationship between Georgia and the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi? Why does the American Embassy parrot Georgian propaganda?  Why does Georgian leadership get a free pass on human rights issues?  The Fuks case?  The visa free travel they have instituted for people from Chechnya and Dagestan?

One last point that is completely ignored by the media and virtually every politician (save Congressman Dana Rohrabacher who has been a lone voice of reason) is that every single conflict involving Abkhazia and South Ossetia has been started by Georgia.  If Georgia just left Abkhazia and South Ossetia alone, there would be no violence.   Mr. Wingate calls Abkhazia a "hot spot".  That is not accurate.  The only region where there  has been any volatility in Abkhazia since the early 1990's is the border with Georgia.  Guess why? Yup.  The Georgians come across the border and start it.  Then the U.S. government and Georgia claim it is unstable and discourage tourists and investors from coming.

By the way, neither Senator Boxer's office nor the US Embassy in Tbilisi has yet replied to me.....

Bruce Talley

Republic of Abkhazia

May 12, 2011

Investor Tour to Abkhazia

Last week several investors, Mitch Hancock of Canada and an American representing several deep pocket and institutional investors, joined me on a tour of Abkhazia.  We met with officials from the government, including Prime Minister Shamba.  

First, we spent a few days in Moscow before heading to Sochi and Abkhazia.  Moscow was full of people for the Victory Day holiday weekend.  The streets in the center were blocked off to vehicular traffic on May 9 and with warm and sunny weather, millions of people were out to enjoy the day.  My guests were really impressed with the parades and the spectacle of Moscow on Victory Day.

May 10, we flew to Sochi and traveled to Abkhazia.  We drove down to Sukhum from the border. Both visitors were impressed with the beautiful coastline northwest of Gagra.  We stopped several times to take photos. On the way, we stopped at Pitsunda where I showed them the resort.  We spent about an hour walkng the grounds and beach of the resort.  The comments were very positive about the prospects for development at Pitsunda and nearby.  We had a long talk about how to draw in large investors for what appears to be mutliple resorts at the grounds of the current resort. 

After we arrived in Sukhum, we had dinner at Aqvafurta and talked about what we had seen in Abkhazia.  The next afternoon, I showed Novy Afon Monastery and Stalin's dacha to my guests.  The views from the dacha of the central coastline are very dramatic and both of my guests remarked on the beauty and development potential of the location.  

Later that day, we met with Prime Minister Shamba and his advisors in his office.  Tim Post traveled from Krasnodar for the meeting and he and I spoke about the English language tourist application that we have developed for Abkhazia.  Then the American investor spoke about the lack of credit and debit card processing and potential solutions in Abkhazia.  He also said that there was a dearth of English language information on the investment projects in the Republic of Abkhazia.  Then Mitch Hancock made a presentation on Canadian playground equipment.  Earlier, he read about President Bagapsh's interest in acquiring quality playground equipment for Abkhazia's children.  Mr. Hancock believes there are multiple opportunities to pursue in Abkhazia and said that if the government was prepared, he would put together proposals for modernizing the port facility.  Mr. Hancock has a long international track record working with transportation and shipping.

We planned on a helicopter trip to see Abkhazia's coastline and mountains, but weather did not permit. Still we spent several days in Abkhazia and everyone was impressed with the opportunities there.  Both of my North American guests felt that there is tremendous potential for development in Abkhazia.  There were favorable comments about the leadership "They plainly understand the issues and want their country to develop" and about individual projects "this is a winner" (on Pitsunda).  The spectacular beauty also impressed both visitors. After we visited Novy Afon, favorable comparisons to the southern California coastline were made.  All three of us believe there was the potential for a 5 star resort there.

I have spoken to both parties since they departed several days ago.  Mr. Hancock is interested in pursuing opportunities in import/export,shipping, port redevelopment and air service.  His American counterpart is talking to  investors in the US about real estate development projects in Abkhazia.

The Hotel Alex, Gagra -Wednesday, May 3

Today is a beautiful day in Abkhazia.  The temperature is about 24 (75 Fahrenheit).

The Alex Hotel (photos above and below) recently opened in Gagra.  The hotel, with an English-speaking staff, sits directly in front of the beach and within a short walk of central Gagra. It is possibly the best hotel property in Abkhazia.  There are both indoor and outdoor pools, a spa and 80 rooms.  The hotel features a restaurant, bowling alley and billiards. Rooms are comfortable, modern and clean.   Hotel rooms enjoy mountain and sea views.   Service is the best that I have seen in Abkhazia.

This is the kind of hotel development that I expect to see much more of in Abkhazia.  The hotel is modern in design and very inviting to the eye.  It is plain there is a market for it. The hotel was 100% occupied for virtually the entire month of April, even with colder and wetter than normal weather.  With the coming tourism boom, there is room for many hotels in Abkhazia.  

 

Outside Business Interests Visit Abkhazia

Last week several groups of foreign businesspeople came to Abkhazia.  I met with two Argentines who are working with an Abkhaz businessman to bring sugarcane for processing from Brazil.  A German group visited to vet investment projects and the Israeil security consulting firm, Global CST came to Sukhum, also.   Global CST had been involved in training Georgian troops before the 2008 conflict in South Ossetia.  The visit caused Georgian officials some real heartburn.  Some observers have connected the dots between Georgia's recent harsh treatment and entrapment of Israeil businessman, Rony Fuks, the Elbit Systems case and Global Systems visit to Abkhazia.  After the trip, Georgia's Foreign Ministry summoned the Israeil Ambassador Itzhak Gerberg for talks.  Ambassador Gerberg denied that Israel would supply weapons to Abkhazia, saying that Global CST had talked about other spheres on investment.

A few weeks ago, a western businessman contacted me about agricultural possiblities in Abkhazia.  He specifically mentioned greenhouse building and operation.  Just last week, an Abkhaz businessman connected with me about the same issue.  He has property and funding for the operation, but needs technical expertise.  

It is clear to me that the tide is changing and Abkhazia's opportunities are drawing outside interest.  Like the tide, this economic progress cannot be stopped.  Nor should it.  In my recent conversations with Congressman Rohrabacher, I stressed the opportunities American business has to spread "American" values of entrepreneurship, business ethics and democracy.  In doing so, we can participate in the building of a safer, more prosperous Bllack Sea and Caucasus region.

Rumblings of Recognition

I was in Sukhum, Abkhazia last week and I heard rumors of nations that may recognize Abkhazia in the near future.  There is nothing set in stone, but I heard this from several different sources both within Abkhazia and outside the borders.  President Bagapsh was in Turkey from April 7 -10 and he stated something similar, also without naming any names.