On September 16, the official website of the so-called president of unrecognized Abkhazia temporarily published a message that, in the context of canceling the agreement with the Russian Federation on the creation of a naval base in the port of Ochamchira, a proposal on this matter is being sent to Turkey.
In particular, it was noted that Aslan Bzhania sent a proposal to Turkish President Recep Erdogan to sign a treaty on friendship and partnership, which provides for cooperation in the economic, military and cultural spheres. This decision is dictated by historical ties and the “will of the people.”
We live in a time when we need to make difficult, but right decisions for our people. And the choice of partners in the international arena is one of the main areas. Our Turkish friends are ready to support the education and healthcare sectors, provide decent payments to our doctors and teachers… in Turkey, Abkhazia will receive the only and reliable ally in the sphere of defense and protection. The Turkish naval bases, which will replace the Russian ones, will become a reliable shield for our independence, Bzhania said.
Defense Express writes that the message was subsequently removed from the site, but it remains cached. No reason was given for the removal, nor was there any explanation for the statement, which, if implemented, would have a significant impact on unrecognized Abkhazia, Russia, Turkey and the region as a whole.
The publication writes that information about Abkhazia canceling Russia’s permission to expand the base in Ochamchire and create a permanent deployment point for the Black Sea Fleet appeared in August. The reasons for this decision by unrecognized Abkhazia were not reported, but the Kremlin stopped social payments to Abkhaz workers in the security forces, doctors and teachers on September 1.
It should also be taken into account that Ankara does not recognize Abkhazia as independent, considering it part of Georgia. But real relations between them do exist. In particular, the so-called Abkhazian Foreign Ministry reports fairly regular visits of officials to Turkey, but they are mostly aimed at meetings with the Abkhazian diaspora, which in terms of numbers even predominates over the entire population of Abkhazia: 500 thousand against about 225 thousand.
If the intentions of unrecognized Abkhazia are confirmed, it will be interesting to watch the Kremlin’s reaction. Because Turkey is not only part of BRICS, but also, in any case, a member of NATO, Defense Express writes.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.