“All the developments are not of ethnic but of moral sign. The people wishing Abkhazia and Georgia welfare and success, are all on uniform position that it must be within the Georgian state. There is no other moral choice. Without the artificial barriers impeding us in relations with Abkhazians taking our past into account, I believe that we will rapidly restore our relations within one cultural area”, - the Chair of the Interim Commission on Territorial Integrity, Gedevan Popkhadze stated at the roundtable on “Democratic Republic of Georgia and Abkhazia” dedicated to the 100th anniversary of independence held symbolically in the First Republic Hall.

The meeting was attended by the members of the Abkhazia AR Supreme Council, Abkhazian Government, academic circles and experts. “Today, we are here to discuss independent Republic of Georgia and Georgia-Abkhazia relations within this scope. It is the topic allowing us speaking and thinking about the future and the solution”, - the Rector of Sokhumi University, Zurab Khonelidze stated.

The Deputy Chair of Abkhazia AR Supreme Council, Jemal Gamakharia introduced the report on May, 1918-February, 1921 – 3-year co-existence in the independent state, Georgian state-Abkhazia autonomy experience. “May 26 – declaration of independence of Georgia is one of the most important dates and events in history of Georgia. This day was the revitalization of Georgian state dissociated in the end of the XV century. No forces could kill the sense of statehood in our nation, aspiration to state restoration and inner demand for state restoration”.

1918-1921 were the most important years in terms of Georgia-Abkhazia relations along concluding that Georgians and Abkhazians managed to peacefully coexist in independent, democratic state. Abkhazia residents contributed the particular merit, role and place in declaration of the democratic republic.

“Today, we hear the analysis of an interesting period. It is particularly interesting for me to hear the history of Abkhazian figures. I offer to set up the Commission to study the opinions of the descendants of these people. Deriving from this discussion, we have information sufficient for consideration and development of the strategic plan”, - the Vice Speaker, Giorgi Volski stated.

According to him, Abkhazia and Georgia shall hold direct dialogue without the mediator. in 1991, Georgia had the opportunity to hold the direct dialogue with Abkhazia without the Northern mediator and the agreement on Constitutional aspects was achieved.

“The current situation is different but I believe that sooner or later we will hold the direct dialogue with Abkhazians without the Northern mediator and achieve the agreement taking the new reality into account”, - J. Gamakharia stated.

G. Popkhadze thanked the attendees for the presentations and underlined importance of coincidence of political and scientific opinions. “Coincidence of Georgian political and scientific opinions is paramount on all the issues related to Abkhazia. Scientific opinion will not be practical and effective without political back-up and this political opinion shall in turn be backed with the scientific knowledge. Thus, our relations shall be converted into synthesis of political and scientific opinions to achieve our common goals”.