{"id":948,"date":"2014-11-03T10:12:55","date_gmt":"2014-11-03T10:12:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/covcasbulletin.info\/?p=948"},"modified":"2014-11-03T10:12:55","modified_gmt":"2014-11-03T10:12:55","slug":"sokhumi-offers-its-draft-of-new-treaty-with-russia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/covcasbulletin.info\/?p=948","title":{"rendered":"Sokhumi Offers Its Draft of New Treaty with Russia"},"content":{"rendered":"

civil.ge<\/em><\/p>\n

\nAuthorities in breakaway Abkhazia have tabled revised draft of new treaty with Russia, initial version of which was proposed by Moscow<\/a> (see below) last month and some portions of which drew much criticism in Sokhumi.<\/p>\n

The text<\/a>, which was made public on October 30, was drafted by a group, which included representatives from the breakaway region\u2019s parliament, president\u2019s office and government.<\/p>\n

\"Independence<\/a>
Independence Day military parade in Sukhumi, Abkhazia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Changes were made, among others, in clauses related to combined group of armed forces and its command, citizenship issues, customs controls and joint law enforcement center.<\/p>\n

The Abkhaz draft changes title of the document from Russia-proposed \u201cagreement on alliance and integration\u201d to \u201cagreement on alliance and strategic partnership.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like in the Russian draft, creation of \u201ccommon defense and security space\u201d remains in the Abkhaz version among \u201ckey directions\u201d of this \u201calliance and strategic partnership\u201d.<\/p>\n

But instead of carrying out \u201cmutually agreed foreign policy\u201d as it was offered in the Russian draft, Abkhaz proposal revises the wording into \u201ccoordinated foreign policy\u201d on the issues of mutual interest.<\/p>\n

Abkhaz lawmakers say that this change was recommended by breakaway region\u2019s foreign minister, Viacheslav Chirikba, who, they say, argued that, unlike \u201ccoordinated\u201d, the \u201cmutually agreed foreign policy\u201d would imply agreeing \u201cevery step\u201d with Moscow.<\/p>\n

The Abkhaz draft removes from the Russia-proposed text creation of \u201ccommon social and economic space\u201d from the key directions of the treaty and instead offers the following wording: \u201cassisting social-economic development of the Republic of Abkhazia.\u201d<\/p>\n

Apparently in an attempt to stress on Sokhumi\u2019s aspiration to join Russia-led Eurasian Union, the draft adds to \u201ckey directions\u201d the following wording: \u201ccreation of conditions for Abkhazia\u2019s full-fledged participation in integration projects on the post-Soviet space, implemented upon the initiative of or\/and with assistance of the Russian Federation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Defense and Security<\/strong><\/p>\n

Like the Russian draft, the Abkhaz version also has collective defense clause and envisages creation of the Combined Group of Forces.<\/p>\n

But it specifies that this joint group of forces should be established with units from the Abkhaz and the Russian armed forces, meaning that the entire Abkhaz forces should not be part of the Combined Group of Forces.<\/p>\n

It also specifies that Moscow-proposed \u201ccommon defense infrastructure\u201d should be established through providing to the Combined Group of Forces by Abkhazia and Russia \u201cseparate military facilities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Unlike the Moscow-proposed text, the Abkhaz draft specifies that in the peacetime leadership of the joint command should be held on a rotational basis by the Abkhaz and Russian sides.<\/p>\n

The Moscow-proposed draft envisages that Russia will appoint commander of the Combined Group of Forces in the time of war or when there is an \u201cimmediate threat of aggression.\u201d<\/p>\n

This clause is kept in the Abkhaz draft, but it also adds that in time of war or an immediate threat of aggression, deputy commander of the Combined Group of Forces should be appointed by Sokhumi.<\/p>\n

The Abkhaz version also adds a clause according to which the Combined Group of Forces will have the right to prepare and carry out operations only if there is an authorization from both Russian and Abkhaz presidents \u2013 the text reads that it should be \u201ca joint decision\u201d of the two presidents.<\/p>\n

The Abkhaz draft keeps clauses in which Russia takes commitment to fund \u201cstandardization\u201d of logistics of the Abkhaz armed forces, as well as salaries of Abkhaz servicemen with those of the Russian armed forces within three years after the entry into force of the treaty.<\/p>\n

It, however, also adds a new clause according to which Russia should provide the Abkhaz forces with \u201cmodern weapons.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Abkhaz draft also sets six-month deadline for signing a separate agreement, which should define funding and implementation details of these provisions of the treaty.<\/p>\n

Citizenship<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Moscow-proposed draft envisages taking of \u201cadditional measures\u201d by the both sides to \u201csimplify procedures\u201d for granting their citizenships to each other\u2019s citizens.<\/p>\n

In its draft Sokhumi refuses to take such commitment and to simplify granting of its citizenship to the Russian citizens.<\/p>\n

But the Abkhaz draft keeps a provision in which Russia is offered to further simplify granting of its citizenship to the Abkhaz citizens. Most of the residents in the breakaway region are already Russian passport holders.<\/p>\n

Sokhumi\u2019s strong opposition to simplify granting of citizenship to the Russian citizens is caused by its fear that it may pave the way for buying or reclaiming of property in Abkhazia by those ethnic Georgians, who fled Abkhazia as a result the armed conflict in early 1990s and who now reside in Russia and are now Russian citizens.<\/p>\n

Border and Customs Control<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Abkhaz draft keeps unchanged Moscow-proposed provision to provide \u201ccomplete freedom of movement across the Russian-Abkhaz state border\u201d \u2013 a measure, which should be subject of \u201crestrictions, imposed for security reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n

But unlike Russian draft, which offers joint border protection of only \u201cAbkhaz-Georgian border\u201d, the Abkhaz draft speaks of taking measures within two years after entry into force of the treaty to provide joint protection of not only border with Georgia, but also of other sections of the land and maritime borders of the breakaway region.<\/p>\n

The Abkhaz draft also adds new clause according to which Moscow and Sokhumi would jointly secure \u201cengineering and technical\u201d equipping of the border infrastructure with Georgia.<\/p>\n

The Russian-proposed draft offers \u201cjoint\u201d customs control on movement of people, transport and cargo at entry points in Abkhazia, including at ports.<\/p>\n

This clause was criticized in Sokhumi and as a result it was entirely removed from the text tabled by the authorities of the breakaway region.<\/p>\n

The Abkhaz draft also sets two years, instead of Russia-proposed 18 months, as a timeframe within which Sokhumi has to \u201capproximate\u201d its customs-related legislation with the one of the Eurasian Economic Union.<\/p>\n

While the Russia-proposed draft says that Sokhumi should recognize Russian customs control results, the Abkhaz draft speaks of mutual recognition of each other\u2019s customs control results.<\/p>\n

Law Enforcement<\/strong><\/p>\n

A clause in the Russia-proposed draft, which also drew much criticism in Sokhumi, was the one which offered setting up of Joint Coordinating Center of the Russian and Abkhaz law enforcement agencies within a year after entry into force of the agreement to counter \u201corganized crime, other grave crimes and extremism on the territory of Abkhazia.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Abkhaz draft offers a revise wording of this clause, envisaging setting up of \u201cJoint Information-Coordinating Center\u201d of law enforcement agencies to counter \u201corganized crime and other grave crimes on the territories of the Republic of Abkhazia and the Russian Federation.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Abkhaz draft also specifies that this center should help the both sides to coordinate actions in fight against grave crimes, as well as provide \u201corganizational-methodological\u201d assistance to the Abkhaz law enforcement agencies for the purpose of increasing their efficiency.<\/p>\n

The Abkhaz draft also says that this center should provide \u201cgathering, storing, protecting, analyzing and sharing of information related to fight against crime.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Abkhaz draft keeps mostly unchanged clauses related to the integration of the breakaway region\u2019s social protection, pensions and healthcare systems to the southern federal districts of Russia.<\/p>\n

The Abkhaz draft adds a clause, which envisages Russia\u2019s assistance in implementing \u201cprograms for development of the Abkhaz language.\u201d<\/p>\n

Russia-Proposed Treaty with Abkhazia on \u2018Alliance and Integration\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n

civil.ge<\/em><\/p>\n

Setting up of a joint Russian-Abkhaz group of forces for collective defense, joint law enforcement structures for fighting crime, as well as broad range of Moscow-funded measures for Abkhazia\u2019s further integration into Russia\u2019s economic, social protection and healthcare systems are envisaged by a Kremlin-proposed draft of new treaty, which Moscow and the breakaway region intend to sign this year.<\/p>\n

Text of the draft \u201cAgreement Between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Abkhazia on Alliance and Integration\u201d was made public after it was posted on a website of official Abkhaz news agency Apsnipress on October 13.<\/p>\n

Before the text was released, Abkhaz leader, Raul Khajimba, met with members of the breakaway region\u2019s parliament and asked them \u201cto prepare their remarks and proposals\u201d on the draft agreement, which was presented to Sokhumi by Russia.<\/p>\n

\u201cDiscussion of the document and elaboration of [Sokhumi\u2019s] proposals will proceed in the atmosphere of openness and with taking into consideration interests of the Abkhaz people,\u201d Khajimba told lawmakers, according to his press office.<\/p>\n

Russian daily, Vedomosti, reported quoting unnamed Kremlin source, that Moscow thinks most of the clauses of the proposed draft will not cause negative reaction from Sokhumi, as it \u201cbroadens and complements\u201d already existing comprehensive agreement on cooperation with Abkhazia and does not infringe Abkhazia\u2019s sovereignty and independence.<\/p>\n

According to the draft, key directions of \u201ccooperation, integration and partnership\u201d are: carrying out mutually agreed foreign policy; creation of \u201ccommon defense and security space\u201d, and creation of \u201ccommon social and economic space.\u201d<\/p>\n

Defense and Security<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to the draft, creation of \u201ccommon security and defense space\u201d entails establishment of \u201ccommon defense infrastructure\u201d; setting up of \u201ccombined group of forces\u201d for the purpose of \u201crepelling aggression\u201d, and joint measures for border protection.<\/p>\n

The draft agreement has a collective defense clause, according to which attack against one shall be considered an attack against another and they should provide \u201cnecessary assistance\u201d, including military, to each other in case of such attack.<\/p>\n

Within a year after entry into force of the agreement, Moscow and Sokhumi have to create Combined Group of Forces of the Russian and Abkhaz armed forces with its joint command, as well as joint defense infrastructure, according to the draft.<\/p>\n

Russia will appoint commander of the Combined Group of Forces in the time of war or when there is an \u201cimmediate threat of aggression,\u201d according to the draft treaty.<\/p>\n

The draft agreement envisages \u201cgradual unification of standards\u201d of command and control systems, logistics, as well as salaries of Abkhaz servicemen with those of the Russian armed forces within three years after the entry into force of the treaty.<\/p>\n

Russia undertakes commitment to fund these measures.<\/p>\n

According to the draft, those residents of Abkhazia, who are Russian citizens \u2013 most of the Abkhaz residents are Russian passport holders \u2013 will have the right to join the Russian forces, stationed in Abkhazia, on contract basis.<\/p>\n

Border Protection, Law Enforcement<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to the draft, Moscow offers Sokhumi to provide \u201ccomplete freedom of movement across the Russian-Abkhaz state border. But the draft treaty also says that this measure should be subject to unspecified \u201crestrictions, imposed for security reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n

New Abkhaz leader, Raul Khajimba, has been calling for easing border crossing with Russia and, on the other hand, for tightening of control on border with Georgia, including through closing down all but one crossing points on Enguri river, which divides the breakaway region from rest of Georgia.<\/p>\n

In this section of the draft treaty, Russia reiterates its commitment to provide assistance in protection of the Abkhaz \u201cstate border\u201d with Georgia, and also offers to \u201cgradually\u201d cut manpower and other resources now available for protection of the Russian-Abkhaz border and to redirect these resources on boosting protection of the Abkhaz-Georgian border.<\/p>\n

The Russian-proposed draft also offers \u201cjoint control\u201d on movement of people, transport and cargo at entry points in Abkhazia, including at ports.<\/p>\n

The draft treaty also offers setting up of Joint Coordinating Center of the Russian and Abkhaz law enforcement agencies within a year after entry into force of the agreement for the purpose of fighting \u201ccrime and extremism\u201d on the territory of Abkhazia.
\n
\n\u2018Harmonization with Eurasian Union\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to the draft, within 18 months after the entry into force of the agreement, Sokhumi will have to put its customs legislation in line with regulations of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union.<\/p>\n

Abkhazia will also have to \u201charmonize\u201d its budgetary and tax legislation with the Russian one within three years after the entry into forces of the agreement, according to the draft.<\/p>\n

Social Protection, Pensions and Healthcare<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to the draft, Russia takes commitment to \u201cco-finance\u201d gradual increase of salaries of employees of the state-funded entities in Abkhazia, including in healthcare, education, social service, culture sectors. Average salaries in these state-funded entities, according to the draft agreement, should be increased to the amount existing in Russia\u2019s Southern Federal District.<\/p>\n

Russia will also fund, according to the draft, gradual increase of pensions for Russian citizens, residing in Abkhazia (most of the residents in the breakaway region are Russian passport holders).<\/p>\n

This increase, which should take place within three years after the entry into force of the agreement, should aim at bringing monthly pensions in Abkhazia to the level existing in Russia\u2019s Southern Federal Districts.<\/p>\n

According to the draft, within three years after the entry into force of the agreement, Sokhumi should \u201ccreate all the necessary conditions\u201d for making Russian citizens, residing in Abkhazia, part of Russia\u2019s federal compulsory health insurance system, which will allow them to have access to Russian-funded healthcare services in Russia.<\/p>\n

Foreign Policy<\/strong><\/p>\n

In foreign policy direction, Russia pledges to take efforts for \u201cbroadening\u201d international recognition of Abkhazia and for \u201ccreating preconditions\u201d to help Abkhazia become a member of the international organizations.<\/p>\n

Apart of Russia, Abkhazia is now recognized only by Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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