Wednesday 18 February 2015

APPEAL TO MOTHERS OF UKRAINE


We, mothers of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as all people of good will who are not indifferent to the destiny of the people of Ukraine, join with  the voice of the mothers of Ukraine and express our deep concern and anxiety with  fratricidal war waged in your country.
We fully experienced the horrors of war, a bitter loss of sons, relatives and friends. Among us  are mothers who have been  more than 20 years searching for their missing children and till now  have not taken off mourning.
Mothers of Abkhazia and South Ossetia  are against the war all over the world, and can not remain indifferent to the death of your sons, as well as the civilian population, including children, the elderly and women.
We believe and hope that all the mothers of the world will join your voice to stop this tragedy, and the warring parties will listen to you, and following the Minsk Agreements, fighting will be stopped, and finally Peace will come to your land.

Movement "Mothers of Abkhazia for Peace and Social Justice"
The Committee on Missing Persons in South Ossetia "Memory"
Taken during a working meeting in Sukhum, Republic of Abkhazia 

 February 12, 2015

ОБРАЩЕНИЕ К МАТЕРЯМ УКРАИНЫ


Мы, матери Абхазии и Южной Осетии,  как и все люди доброй воли, которым не безразлична судьба народа Украины, присоединяемся к голосу матерей Украины и  выражаем свою глубокую обеспокоенность  и тревогу  братоубийственной войной, развязанной в вашей стране.  
Мы сполна изведали все ужасы войны, горькую потерю сыновей,  близких и родных. Среди нас есть матери, которые  уже более 20 лет  ищут своих без вести пропавших детей и до сих пор не сняли траура.
Матери Абхазии и Южной Осетии против войны  во всем мире, и не могут равнодушно смотреть на гибель  ваших сыновей, а также мирного населения, в том числе   детей, стариков и женщин.  
Верим  и надеемся, что  к вашему голосу присоединятся все матери  мира, чтобы остановить эту трагедию,  и к вам  прислушаются противоборствующие стороны, и  следуя минским соглашениям, боевые действия  прекратятся и  наконец Мир придет на вашу   землю.  
Движение “Матери Абхазии за мир и социальную справедливость”
Комитет  по розыску пропавших без вести в Южной Осетии “Память”
Принято во время рабочей встречи в Сухуме, Республика Абхазия
12 февраля 2015 года

Tuesday 10 February 2015

"Диалог и многообразие"


Сухум. 2 февраля. Абхазия-Информ. "Диалог и многообразие" - так называется проект, в связи с завершением которого Ассоциация женщин Абхазии 30 января провела круглый стол.
"Проект нацелен на укрепление доверия между различными этническими и религиозными группами, - отметила координатор проекта Мариета Топчьян.- В проекте были задействованы представители разных национальных общин, гражданского общества, интересующиеся проблемой. Представители разных этнических групп посещали различные мероприятия, проводимые национальными общинами, участвовали в дискуссиях и тренингах, организуемых АЖА, и даже все вместе выпустили два номера газеты "Диалог и многообразие". Важной составляющей проекта была исследовательская работа, связанная с вопросами многообразия и включения различных этнических и религиозных групп в общественно-политическую жизнь Абхазии".
По словам руководителя АЖА Нателлы Акаба, полиэтничность - отличительная черта нашего общества. "Это, безусловно, позитивное явление, однако необходимо уделять внимание вопросам гармонизации межнациональных отношений. У нас нет никакой государственной политики в этом вопросе. Нет и дискуссии в обществе по этой теме. В парламенте первого созыва существовала комиссия по правам человека и межнациональным отношениям. Сегодня такой комиссии нет, а она необходима", - сказала она.
По мнению Н. Акаба, требуется договориться о таких понятиях, как "национальные меньшинства", "гражданская нация", "этническая нация" и др.
"Цель этого проекта - стимулировать диалог и взаимодействие между представителями разных национальных общин, способствовать сохранению культурных особенностей разных наций", - отметила Н. Акаба.
По словам модератора встречи Лианы Кварчелия, "в результате такого общения представителей разных национальных общин, с одной стороны - рассеиваются какие-то стереотипы, а с другой – возникают идеи для сотрудничества, желание вместе сделать что-то на благо нашей общей Родины".
"У нас в обществе нет неразрешимых проблем. Нет конфликтов, которые могут разделить общество, расколоть его по этническому признаку. У нас есть деление по политическим пристрастиям, раздуваемое, к сожалению, СМИ и социальными сетями", - считает Л. Кварчелия.
Писатель и журналист Надежда Венедиктова обратила внимание на то, что, в отличие от абхазов, представители других национальностей не участвуют в политической жизни страны. "Озабоченность общества должно вызвать то, что в политической жизни, кроме титульной нации, практически никто не участвует, за исключением единиц. Но и сами нацменьшинства должны проявлять активную гражданскую позицию. Человек с активной жизненной позицией ярче воспринимается обществом", - отметила она.
Участники круглого стола поднимали различные вопросы мультикультурализма, роли национальных общин в жизни республики, проблемы изучения государственного абхазского языка, роли СМИ в освещении жизни национальных общин, соблюдения прав человека, введения квот в парламенте для национальных меньшинств, будущего национальных школ в Абхазии и др. Звучали предложения об использовании субтитров на русском языке при трансляции абхазских телепередач.
"Я хотела бы, если не говорить, то хотя бы понимать абхазский язык. В этом вопросе нужна помощь государства. Надо открывать центры по изучению абхазского языка, внедрять новые интерактивные методики", - сказала Вера Коржова из организации "Очамчыра. Русское содружество".
По ее словам, благодаря проекту АЖА, "общаются не только взрослые, но и дети".
Асида Ломия обратила внимание на то, что "главное желание всех - построить нормальное демократическое, правовое общество". "Нужны разные площадки, на которых будут обсуждаться актуальные проблемы, нашего многонационального общества, - отметила она. - Абхазский национальный проект еще во времена Народного Форума "Аидгылара" поддержали люди других национальностей. Так было и во время войны".
"Национальные общины замкнулись внутри себя, а проект помог их общению," - заметила Аида Ладария из Сухумского Дома Юношества.
Вице-спикер парламента Эмма Гамисония дала высокую оценку проекту "Диалог и многообразие" и отметила необходимость финансирования различных проектов гражданского общества, в том числе и государством.
Касаясь прав человека, многие отмечали, что в Абхазии не проводится никакая специальная политика по ущемлению прав меньшинств. Однако, есть экономические, социальные и иные проблемы, которые, если их не решать, могут способствовать тому, что нарушения прав граждан республики приобретут этническую окраску. По мнению многих выступавших, равенство всех перед законом, недопущение избирательного правосудия - это важные элементы демократии и соблюдения как прав индивидов, так и коллективных прав.
"Посещая мероприятия, организуемые разными национальными общинами, общаясь друг с другом, приобретая новых друзей, мы все сошлись во мнении, что такое близкое общение людей разных национальностей позволяет нам лучше узнать и понять друг друга, дает возможность сохранять и укреплять национальное единство Абхазии", - сказала в завершение встречи Мариета Топчьян.
Годичный проект "Диалог и многообразие" осуществлялся при поддержке британской неправительственной организации "Ресурсы примирения" в рамках Программы COBERM.

http://abkhazinform.com/item/372-dialog-i-mnogoobrazie?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook

What did we “sow" in 2014?


More specifically, we formulated the topic for a final discussion thus: "What do we "sow "in 2014? What are the "young crops " in this context, we can expect in 2015? ". Complicated, but it accurately reflects our goals. It is important to assess what has happened and to formulate expectations arising from our actions. Of course, we are talking about the political life of the country. When our trio of experts gathers,  we get  top-rated debates. I regard this as an expression of confidence of the audience to the views expressed, I appreciate that  last year we managed to get a stable audience.
Nadezhda Venediktova, Inal Khashig and Alkhas Tkhagushev understand that just having а hand painted pattern of realized changes in each area may move to a long-awaited changes in the country. But, as it turns out, the overwhelming majority of representatives of the current government did not understand it. "Is there any desire? Are there positive trends and examples? "- you will ask. - There are. And the experts say about it  too. You will be a judge. But again an important point is missed. There is no plan, roadmap, programs ... Again we keep moving by touch to the promised light future.

The results of the 2014 and what we can  expect in 2015
Alkhaz Tkhagushev.  Glad to see you, dear colleagues. It seems, that mainly we are still hoping to see those reforms we have been so much talking about. In general, reforms are one of the reasons the previous authorities could not keep a stable situation in the country and all developed as it developed to my great regret. One would hope that such situations will not reiterate in our life and at least we will not step on the same rank once again. The authorities declare they are committed to make reforms. To require carrying out these reforms within few months is complicated, but people claim they are ready to make them and some actions have been carried out. But there are many directions in which nothing has been tried yet. I hope next year our fears will be dispelled by the dynamic determination of  new authorities to change something basically.
Inal Khashig. I think, after all, there is some activity vector for reforms, at least at the legislative level. There is Raul Khajimba’s statement to carry out a constitutional reform of a rearrangement of powers between president and parliament in two years. In addition, there is an intention to reform the local government. There are other promises not at the legislative level. I really appreciate the aspiration of the Interior Minister works with. At least, we see the openness that previously has not been associated with this very office. The prosecutor's office ... I have certain claims to it. Somewhere it tries to soften the situation, but, nevertheless, an important vector in the development of the prosecutor’s office is also taking place. Many believe that it looks like a settling of accounts with the former power. But anyway, over this period. A year or two.  And then all will have to be settled in order, then it will be clear whether it was a common human revenge. There are many things that need constant confirmation.
Alkhas Tkhagushev. It is necessary, I think, to forget  who worked before and who is now. Either to establish order or not. I agree with you, Inal, what we see in the Ministry of Interior is encouraging. If the pace is sustained, and the efforts are not descend "out", as it usually happens with us, we will have the result.  The current government today has a rigid "fork". An interesting team gathered in the Ministry of Economy, they have interesting ideas, but it is clear that it is very difficult during few months to achieve results in the economy. Laws do not feed, and people do not feel it so quickly. The only area where the government can quickly and effectively show their determination is  in the  restoring the order.
Nadezhda Venediktova. I think that during these three months it became obvious that the government has not met one of its key promises - to be the government for all. That they will not pay attention to any political preferences, and the professional level will be put in the cornerstone. It almost was not confirmed. I would say that there was a large-scale removal of unwanted persons. And a significant portion of the replacement does not match anyone’s professional level, and, accordingly, the authorities began to lose confidence. To put it mildly, even those who voted for Raul Khajimba see that not very competent people have been appointed to many positions. They begin to doubt that other electoral promises will be performed including the one that three of us think about as the most important - the constitutional reform. I just want our government to focus on the fact that the level of confidence reeled and it is time to take action that it has not decreased even further.
Regarding the Interior Minister’s work, I want to point out an interesting peculiarity. People believe that he really works, and at once a public initiative appeared - "Do not drink and drive!" Young people united themselves; they are 2500 in the Internet group. That is, as soon as the government is doing something consistently, immediately   the initiative comes from the bottom of the society. And together - the civil society and the government can really make changes in some sectors. For me, the fact that young people united themselves is the best New Year gift.
There is an interesting trend over the years of the independence of Abkhazia. At first we had a charismatic leader, then with a compromised character, and then again on the contrary ... of Ardzinba - Bagapsh - Ankvab  -  Khadjimba. It turned out that practically it does not matter if the leader has a character or not. This again suggests that power vertical should be properly built. We must insist on constitutional reform that will allow us to avoid what happened at the end of May. Here I want to object to Inal. You say that the next president should know that he can be thrown. He should not know it.
Inal Khashig. He must feel it with the spinal cord...
Nadezhda Venediktova. No. If we again do so, then we have not learned  lessons and  did not change.
Inal Khashig. It’s so ... let’s leave these political components, well, people believed the same Raul Lolua.  They see  he really does things  and it is impossible not to agree ...
Alkhas Tkhagushev: He's one of the few ministers who have made some policy statements. Where he is going to lead the agency to and this is very important. So people believe. Because it is difficult to believe what you do not see.
Inal Khashig. And if there was no faith, no public company appears. Recently I  have talked with one businessman. He says: "If to analyze all the ordinances, the government decisions, then everything is perfect. The problem lies in their performance. Business does not trust authorities now. Business would also be able  to assist the state, if they had  such a belief. Yes, now there are promises.  In the Ministry of Economy new people   came not  to share tranches  and  to do kickbacks, (I feel so), but if there is no order and controlling bodies, no business will trust the state.
Nadezhda Venediktova: Friends, try to talk over what seems the most real we have been  promised ... At the end of the year the President made a very strong step. He presented the candidacy of Beslan Baratelia as  the chairman of the National Bank. And it is also a gift for the new year, because Beslan Baratelia is a very organized person, with modern thinking. I heard on the sidelines, he promises to lend to small business. If he does this, we can say that the National Bank radically  changed its position. It is also important that the local government must obtain authority. One of the achievements of the new government is that the President does not interfere as it was earlier into the work of subordinate officials. That is, the initiative of officials is not extinguished. And if the local government reforms will be carried out, and people on the ground will take the initiative and work, then our social life will become more many-sided and efficient. I think if these two things will be made in the new year - it will be a real achievement.
Alkhas Tkhagushev:  Are we now persuading ourselves? Although for the months passed, I can see that the topic of constitutional reform - the main thesis with which they came to power is set aside. And the same with the local government. If this continues in January and February, and we'll talk a lot about what we need to do something, I'm sorry, I will lose a real belief that the government wants to carry out these reforms. In January, concrete solutions have to be taken. I understand an agreement with Russia, many other squabbles. Always something prevents, the turnover always will be. It was interesting to see the new leadership of television, for example, if they will need the advice that has been created. Of course, no one should teach the TV workers to work. But the reforms that were claimed should be conducted. For example, I'm currently doing an official statement that I leave this Council, because in the past also I believed that it should not be such a "fig leaf". We need to make reforms and do our best the political component  of AGTRK to be different. If the bill on public television will not be accepted, and now I do not see any obstacles to it, no sense to talk about the fact that something is changing in the field of television, for example, I do not see. It concerns  any other agency.
Some ministers even in the theses identified the essence of transformations, and we can talk about them. But there are many areas where a perfect silence is. And it's annoying. About the Ministry of Interior sphere, as a citizen I understand why we are now so much talking about it. Interesting team is in the Ministry of Economy, in the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Health, the latter  got the most bitter legacy after the Interior Ministry. The new Health Minister is  just torn between  the hospitals. And meanwhile he makes policy statements - «we need a medical examination, a common electronic database" ...
Inal Khashig. He says that in 2015, our hospitals will have a free package of drugs.
Alkhas Tkhagushev. That is in a year we will be able to see or not. And of course he tries to do it.  But if a minister who keeps silence, and says nothing what we will ask him about in a year? I do not want us to discuss again the names and personalities of the people. The scheme must be radically changed. Tenders should appear. State procurement is the key point where we have problems and endless theft.
Inal Khashig. Raul Khajimba also must introduce some program of actions. At least, that he was going to do at the legislative level. It is important for me that he will build this system. Trusting his team, he must continue to control them. Personnel issue we touched on, there are some nice figures, there are not very nice, there are not cute at all ...
Alkhas Tkhagushev. Yes, excuse me, Frankly speaking some “sh", which pops up with any authority. I hope the president also understands it  well.
Inal Khashig. I mean, he should after some time, seeing that the man is clearly unable to cope with his tasks to do cleaning series.
Alkhas Tkhagushev. President, appointing a person, should require from him a program of action. That it is publicly announced. If this is not done, then it seems to me, this government will be in a very precarious position.
Nadezhda Venediktova: We have puzzled many ministers and put them  a timer. If they will voice nothing in the next two months and do not move, we will stimulate our society to require a response from the authorities - these ministers are eligible or not.  The achievement of this year is that the representatives of the  civil society are going to demand firmly  the authorities to monitor  appointees. A year ago, we could not talk about it because it would be an illusion. Now we say and think that there is  a hope ...

http://asarkia.info/society-mix/1444/