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.

Meeting With Congressman Rohrabacher

Thursday, April 1, 2011, I met Congressman Rohrabacher in his office in Washington D.C.  Two days earlier the Congressman gave a speech at the World Russia Forum.  In constrast to Richard Perle's speech earlier in the day, the Congressman's speech was not an attack on Russia, but an accurate assessment of Russia's role in the conflict in 2008 and the nation's interest in the Caucasus region and in combatting terrorism.

Congressman Rohrabacher said that Russia did not start the conflict in South Ossetia, but that Georgia had clearly done so.  This was not the first time he has publicly stated this.  In 2008, after the conflict, Mr. Rohrabacher forcefully said in Congress that "the fighting was started by Georgia.  The Georgians broke the truce." and not the Russians.  In the Congressman's speech at the Forum, he also said that Russia clearly has interests in the Caucasus region, just as the U.S. does in Central America. Further, he believes in the right of self-determination for the Abkhaz people.  Finally, his position, like mine, is that NATO should not be confronting Russia as if it represents the threat of the Soviet Union.  Rather, NATO should work together with Russia to meet the common threat of terrorism.

I was delighted to hear the speech and after I approached the Congressman and told him of my business in south Russia and Abkhazia.  Graciously, he and his staff arranged a meeting on short notice before I left town at the end of the week.

When we met in his office, the Congressman had a number of questions about my experiences in Russia and Abkhazia.  We spoke for a full hour and he was interested to learn more about Abkhazia and its history, culture and people.  I was pleased to have the chance to describe the reasons that I support Abkhazia and its independence.  I also told him that Abkhazia is blessed with natural resources, a spectacular coastline and mountains and that it is primed for development due to its location next to Sochi and the Russian market.  I also told the Congressman that I believed that the U.S. had a chance to help develop Abkhazia, thereby not only cementing relations with both Russia and Abkhazia, but also promoting American values of entrepreneurship, business ethics and democracy.  I believe he shares my views on these issues.  

Personally, I found Mr. Rohrabacher to be very bright, informed and a pleasure to speak to.  I told him that I hoped to see him in Russia and would gladly act as his guide.  I was happy to have an audience with the Congressman and I left buoyed by his interest and support.