Abkhaz Parties, Movements Set up New Union

Several political parties and public movements in Georgia?s breakaway Abkhazia established a new union the Forum of National Unity on February 8, Abkhaz news agency Apsnipress reported.

Founders of the Forum explained that this is an attempt to launch the creation of large political unions in Abkhazia.

Among the founding groups of the Forum are the Abkhaz People?s Party, Social-Democratic Party, Republican Party ?Apsni,? as well as public-political movements Aidgilara (Unity), Aiaaira (Victory), Union of Abkhazia?s Defenders and the public movement Motherland.

The Forum of National Unity approved an appeal calling for Abkhazia?s newly elected leadership to follow commitments undertaken under a powersharing agreement, which was singed by former presidential rivals and now allies ?President-elect Sergey Bagapsh and Vice-President- elect Raul Khajimba, last December.

According to this powersharing agreement, which put an end to two months of post-election crisis, Bagapsh?s former rival Raul Khajimba will become the Vice-President of the breakaway region and will have the right to coordinate Abkhazia?s defense, security and foreign policy.