Республика Абхазия (5)
Республика Абхазия (Апсны) – суверенное, демократическое, правовое государство, исторически утвердившееся по праву народа на свободное самоопределение. Наименования Республика Абхазия и Апсны равнозначны. Общая площадь – 8,7 тыс. кв.км. Средняя протяженность с севера на юг - 54 км, с запада на восток - 160 км. Длина береговой линии 214 км. Горы занимают 64 % территории. Лесами покрыто 57 % территории (дуб, бук, граб, каштан, пихта и ель). Климат влажный субтропический, средняя температура января на побережье +4 +7 С, в горах от +2 до -2 С, в июле соответственно +22 +24 С. Осадков 1300-2400 мм. в год.
26 ноября 1994 года парламент республики принял новую Конституцию суверенного Абхазского государства, субъекта международного права, одобрена всенародным голосованием 3 октября 1999 года с изменением, принятым на всенародном голосовании (референдуме) 3 октября 1999 г. Государственным языком Республики Абхазия признан абхазский, а русский наряду с абхазским является языком государственных и других учреждений.
Абхазия – президентская республика.
Глава государства – президент – избирается на пять лет. В настоящее время президентом Абхазии является Бжания Аслан Георгиевич.
Законодательная власть принадлежит Народному Собранию – Парламенту Республики Абхазия.
Исполнительная власть принадлежит Президенту Республики Абхазия. Для осуществления общего руководства исполнительной деятельностью на всей территории страны Президент Республики Абхазия руководит Кабинетом Министров Республики Абхазия. Кабинет Министров формируется Президентом Республики Абхазия и ему подотчётен. В состав Кабинета Министров входят Премьер-министр, Вице-премьеры, министры, другие должностные лица.
Численность населения – всего 242 756 чел., из них 122 309 чел. городское и 120 447 чел. сельское население.
Денежная единица – российский рубль.
Административно-территориальное деление Республики Абхазия
Абхазия расположена в северо-западной части Кавказа. Граничит на северо-западе (по реке Псоу) с Краснодарским краем Российской Федерации, на юго-востоке (по реке Ингур) – с Грузией. На севере граничит с республикой, входящий в состав России - Карачаево-Черкесией. С юга омывается Черным морем. Республика Абхазия состоит из восьми территориально – административных единиц. К ним относятся районы: Гагрский, Гудаутский, Сухумский, Гулрыпшский, Очамчырский, Ткуарчалский, Галский и город Сухум. Города – районные центры: Гагра, Гудаута, Очамчыра, Ткуарчал, Гал, и города в районе – Новый Афон (Гудаутский район), Пицунда ( Гагрский район). В республике имеются три морских порта: Сухумский, Очамчырский, Пицундский.
Industry
The Abkhazian industry was once highly developed, and it consisted of more than 500 enterprises. Yet, after the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia of 1992-1993 and the subsequent blockade that lasted for seven years and was brought about by the economic sanctions of the CIS countries, the Abkhazian industry went into decline. The main infrastructure facilities were destroyed, looted or fell behind technologically, which led to a significant outflow of qualified specialists. However, despite the abovementioned circumstances, the industry of Abkhazia is being revived.
It should be noted that of great importance to the Abkhazian economy is also the export-oriented wine-making.
The grown of construction as part of the financial help of the Russian Federation that aimed, mostly, at capital construction and the restoration of social infrastructure, has had a positive effect on the volume of internal production of construction material leading to the growth in the volume of the extractive industry.
The power generation is a strategic part of the industry. It should be noted that all electricity generated in Abkhazia is being generated at the largest in the Caucasus hydroelectric station on the Ingur River. Given the water resources of Abkhazia, which consist of more than 13.5 million cubic meters of streamflow per year, the potential of hydropower, according to various estimates, exceeds 3.5 million kW. The development of hydropower of the republic is both a strategic and a promising task facing the country's leadership.
Population
According to the information of the State Statistics Office, the population of Abkhazia stands at 242 756 people as of January 1, 2014.
including:
• Urban population – 122 309 people (50.4 %)
• Rural population – 120 447 people (49.6%)
The financial sector
According to Article 140 of the Civil Code of the Republic of Abkhazia, the Russian ruble is the official currency of the Republic of Abkhazia.
Since Abkhazia is one of the states that have refused to have their own currency, the main source of accumulation of the country’s money supply is the balance of payment surplus.
The Republic of Abkhazia develops and implements a uniform state monetary policy in cooperation with the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Abkhazia and the National Bank of the Republic of Abkhazia.
The main indicators of the Bank of Abkhazia, which characterize monetary relations:
• refinancing rate of the Bank of Abkhazia – 12%;
• the interest rate on refinancing loans of the Bank of Abkhazia (taking into account the margin of 6 points to the annual rate) – 18%;
• the weighted average interest rate on interbank loans provided in rubles of the Russian Federation – 22%.
The state budget
The main financial document of the Republic of Abkhazia is the State budget. The People’s Assembly — Parliament of the Republic of Abkhazia reviews, approves and monitors the execution of the State budget.
Tourism
One of the fastest growing and promising economic sectors in Abkhazia is tourism. Due to a number of competitive advantages (climate, nature, historical and architectural moments etc.), Abkhazian tourism has a solid place in the tourist markets attracting more than 1 million people to Abkhazia annually.
Educational tourism is one of the most sought after types of tourism in Abkhazia. On average, it accounts for more than 60% of the total tourist flow. Along with educational tourism, recreational tourism also develops successfully.
The majority of the tourists who come for the purpose of rest or medical treatment stay in the Gagra District, since more than 70% of the operational sanatorium and resort facilities are located in Gagra and Pitsunda.
Despite the relatively positive dynamics of the development of tourism in Abkhazia, due to a number of circumstances, the potential of the republic’s tourist sector is used only to a small degree.
One of the most essential of the abovementioned competitive advantages of Abkhazia is the ecological cleanliness of the republic
Agriculture
Abkhazia is a traditionally agrarian republic.
Among the main directions of development of modern agriculture are fishing (and crop production. Most of the agricultural products are exported to the Russian Federation and Turkey.
Transport
All main types of transport exist in the Republic of Abkhazia.
There are two airports in Abkhazia. The Sukhum airport is located in 25 km from the capital. The Bambora airport is located in 40 km from Sukhum, near Gudauta.
Yet, at present, passenger service through airports located in the territory of RA is not carried out.
Abkhazia has three seaports, including the Ochamchyra port, which was built for military purposes. The main seaport of Abkhazia is in Sukhum.
Beginning…
Abkhazia is a country of ancient history. Since ancient times (over 45 Upper Paleolithic sites and locations have been discovered in Abkhazia) people have been living on its territory. Metallurgy, weaving, megalithic structures scattered throughout Abkhazia distinguished this ancient culture. Since the XIII century BC begins the final stage of the bronze culture, called the Colchis. This stage is characterized by the flourishing of metallurgy. The Bronze culture of the Abkhaz variant is one of the brightest ancient cultures that existed on the territory of the former USSR. Monuments of ancient culture and art, which were created here, were so outstanding that they are important not only for the history of Abkhazia, but also for all the ancient culture of the Western Transcaucasus. The quality of jewelry, jewelry made of gold, silver, bronze, carnelian and amber has reached an incredible development. They can be seen in numerous museums of Abkhazia.
Early feudal state
With the collapse of the Byzantine Empire, the Genoese gained influence throughout the Black Sea region. In a relatively short time from the mouth of the Don to Sebastopolis, 39 colonies were founded. Here is a list of some of them on the territory of modern Abkhazia:
• Abaza - mouth of the river Psou
• Petsonda - modern Pitsunda
• Cavo-di-Bucso - Gudauta
• Cavo-di-Giro - in the area of N. Athos
• Tamansa - modern Tamysh
• Ola-Guana – area of modern Ochamchira
Honey, wax, flaxseed, flax yarn, furs, hemp, expensive wood, timber and ship wood were exported from Abkhazia. The most important point of the Genoese outposts was the city of Sebastopol or San Sebastian. Along with Kaffa, it became the main loading and transit port-city, where the largest slave market on the east coast, which was located on the territory of the old Sukhum fortress, was located.
In the XVI century Abkhazia fell under the political influence of Turkey. Many of the Abkhaz who fell into the Ottoman Empire as slaves, later made a military and political career. From these families there were such famous figures of the end of the XVI and beginning of the XVII centuries as Melek Akhmed Pasha, who became Grand Vizier, Abaza Mekhmed Pasha, Mekhmed Pasha, Ipshir Pasha, Siyavush Pasha and many others. They became governors of such areas as Rumelia, Bosnia, Hungary. The surviving battle tower of the Buda Palace fortress in Budapest, built by Siyavush Pasha still bears his name.
Abkhaz Principality
The next significant stage in the history of Abkhazia is connected with the Abkhaz Principality. Representatives of the ruling Abkhaz family, who never gave up hope to regain the territory of southern Abkhazia, managed to form the Abkhaz principality within the present borders, which have remained unchanged since then until its abolition in 1864.
At the head of the people stood the sovereign prince - akh, who was always the representative of the oldest princely family - Chachba. The ruler and other princes, as well as high nobles, had with them a strong equestrian detachment of armed men called “Kiaraz”. Militia were gathering from “Kiaraz” armed men and military detachments of pure peasants. Each such detachment had its own banner. The peasants had their banner and the nobility had theirs. The same was repeated at sea. Separate detachments floated on high-speed galleys – “Alyshkintrah”.
The last outstanding ruler of Abkhazia in the era of the Abkhaz Principality was Keleshbey Chachba. Having united the country from Dzhiketi to Ingur, Keleshbey began to pursue an independent policy from Turkey. Realizing that Abkhazia would not be able to win and maintain independence in the neighborhood of the empires, he made his choice in favor of Russia. However, the accession of Abkhazia to Russia did not take place immediately, but proceeded in a winding, extremely complicated way. Russia was facing an impending war with Napoleon and did not want to complicate the situation on its southern borders.
Recent history
In 1991, supporters of independence won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections. January 6, 1992 Vladislav Ardzinba is elected Chairman of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia. The new Parliament adopted a number of legislative acts designed to restore Abkhaz statehood. On August 25, 1990, the Supreme Council of the Republic adopted the Declaration on the sovereignty of Abkhazia, and on July 23, 1992, the decision to repeal the effect of the 1978 Constitution. At the same time, the Parliament of Abkhazia declares the entry into force of the Constitution of the SSR of Abkhazia of 1925, its intention to maintain ties with Georgia, to build them on new, civilized and equal bases.
Unfortunately, in Georgia they did not consider it necessary to discuss this problem. The war began on August 14, 1992.
13 and a half months lasted one of the fiercest “local wars of the recent history.” Along with the wars in the Balkans, in Transnistria and Karabakh, it inscribed another black page in the collapse of the post socialist space. On September 30, 1993, the war ended on the eastern border of Abkhazia along the Ingur River. Volunteers from the North Caucasus, Russia, Transnistria, representatives of the Abkhaz Diaspora provided unprecedented assistance to the people of Abkhazia. The outstanding contribution to the military victory and the creation of the Modern Abkhaz state was made by the Supreme Commander, the First President of the Republic Vladislav G. Ardzinba.
The Republic of Abkhazia (Apsny) is a sovereign, democratic, state of law historically established according to the right of nation to free self-determination. The names the Republic of Abkhazia and Apsny are equivalent. The total area is 8,7 thousand square kilometers. Average extent from north to south is 54 km, from west to east – 160 km. The coastline is 214 km. 64% of the territory is covered by mountains. 57 % of the territory is covered with forest (oak, beech, hornbeam, chestnut, fir and spruce). The climate is humid, subtropical, the average January temperature on the seacoast is +4 +7 C, in the mountains +2 -2 C, in July - +22 +24 C correspondingly. Precipitations – 1300-2400 mm per year.
On 26th of November 1994 the Parliament of the republic adopted the Constitution of a sovereign Abkhaz state, the subject of international law, approved by the nation-wide voting on 3rd of October 1999 with the amendment adopted on a nation-wide voting (referendum) on 3rd of October 1999. The state language of the Republic of Abkhazia is Abkhaz along with the Russian language which is recognized as a language of state and other institutions.
Abkhazia is a presidential republic.
The Head of state - the president – is elected for five years. Today Raul Djumkovich Khadjimba is the President of Abkhazia.
The legislature is represented by the People’s Assembly – Parliament of the Republic of Abkhazia.
The executive branch in Abkhazia is represented by the Government that is led by the President. For the conduction of the general executive activities throughout the territory of Abkhazia the President of Abkhazia leads the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Abkhazia. The Cabinet of Ministers is formed by the President of the Republic of Abkhazia and is accountable to him.
The Prime Minister, Vice-premieres, ministers and other officials are part of the Cabinet of Ministers.
The population is 242 756 people, 122 309 of which are urban citizens, 120 447 are rural citizens.
Currency – Russian ruble.
Administrative and territorial division of the Republic of Abkhazia.
Abkhazia is located in north-west part of Caucasus. It has borders with Krasnodar region of Russian Fedeartion in north-west (on Psou river), with Georgia on south-east (on river Ingur). It has borders in the north with the republics that are part of Russia – Karachay Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria. It is washed by the Black sea. The Republic of Abkhazia has 8 territorial administrative units – Gagra, Gudauta, Sukhum, Gulripsh, Ochamchira, Tkvarchal, Gal districts and the city of Sukhum. Regionals centers are towns of Gagra, Gudauta, Ochamchira, Tkvarchal, Gal, towns within districts are Noviy Afon (Gudauta district), Pitsunda (Gagra district). The republic has three seaports: Sukhum, Ochamchira and Pitsunda seaports.