On December 4, President Aslan Bzhania signed a decree “On the approval of the foreign policy concept of the Republic of Abkhazia”.

Shamba called the statement of the opposition political forces that the concept cancels the International Geneva Discussions on Stability and Security in Transcaucasia untrue. 

“There is not such a statement in the text. The Geneva process remains. But I must also note that until 2008 we had negotiations with Georgia at different levels, which then stopped, ” Shamba said. 

Secretary of Security Council recalled the events of 2008, when he was RA Minister of Foreign Affairs. “I remember this process well because I was on the phone with New York all night. After the events of 2008, we declared that the wording “Abkhazia, Georgia” should not be used in UN documents, because Russia which is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, recognized Abkhazia. I offered various compromise formulations, but the UN did not agree. This was the end of the entire large-scale project, ” Shamba said. 

He also drew attention to the fact that skeptical opinions about the Geneva discussions on stability and security in the Transcaucasus have been heard more than once in Abkhazia. 

“I remember well when we participated in Geneva discussions, there were many opinions that it was ineffective and should be abandoned. I have always been in favor of preserving it, because after 2008 it was the only platform where you can meet at such a high level, ” Shamba said. 

Shamba does not agree with those who believe that the RA Foreign Policy Concept was adopted behind the scenes. 

“The draft concept was sent to the Parliament. It was discussed at a meeting of Security Council, and was adopted unanimously. As for proposal of Speaker Valeriy Kvarchia to exclude the concept of "multilevel negotiations" from the text, this wording does not diminish this document in any way and is quite acceptable," Shamba said. 

He gave examples of negotiations with Georgia, which were conducted earlier and are being conducted today at different levels. 

“We know that negotiations are being held at different levels today, at the departmental level, when Chernomorenergo is talking with its Georgian colleagues. At the regional level. There were different levels of negotiations under Vladislav Ardzinba and under Sergey Bagapsh. Many who are present here have taken part in the same Schleining and Irvine process. There were other meetings organized by international organizations, ” said Sergey Shamba.