Day: November 22, 2023

International organizations in Abkhazia are subject to stricter rules following president Aslan Bzhania’s amendment to the decree “On some measures for implementation of projects of foreign non-governmental and international organizations.” However, concerns that NGO activities would face severe restrictions were not justified.

According to the amendments, NGOs and international organizations are now required to inform the authorities about the specific non-profit organizations registered in Abkhazia that they will engage for the implementation of their programs and projects.

Also, in addition to the stages of project implementation, it is now necessary to indicate “each implemented activity and the amount of its funding”.

In addition, information on registration and tax registration of the non-profit organization, the procedure for implementation of the relevant event agreed upon by the parties (including drafts of agreements planned to be signed) and the amount of funding within the framework of the implementation of the relevant program must be submitted to the Abkhaz Foreign Ministry.

“Interim reports on the progress of the program (project) shall be submitted for each calendar quarter not later than the 10th day of the month following the expired quarter regardless of the date of the beginning of the program (project),” the document says.

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• Abkhazia Interior Minister agitates for closer relations with Russia
• Abkhaz FM expects “provocations from the US” and accuses local NGOs of “paving the way”

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Last week, foreign Minister Inal Ardzinba announced the authorities’ intention to change the activities of international non-governmental organizations in Abkhazia.” Following a meeting with heads of offices of international NGOs accredited in Abkhazia, Ardzinba hinted at the possibility of some organizations being banned from operating in Abkhazia.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was specifically mentioned as potentially facing sanctions due to its projects aimed at countering the influence of the Kremlin and restoring the territorial integrity of Georgia.

Minister Ardzinba stated that “those aiming to harm Abkhaz-Russian relations or consider Abkhazia as “occupied territory” will soon face closures.”

However, the amendments to president Aslan Bzhania’s decree do not include bans or restrictions on the activities of international organizations, including USAID, in Abkhazia.

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Armenia has reaffirmed the political will to make efforts towards the normalization of relations with Azerbaijan and the establishment of peace and stability in the South Caucasus. On November 21, Armenia handed over its 6th edition of the agreement on the normalization of relations to the Azerbaijani side.

In a statement released today, the Armenian Foreign Ministry reminded that while Armenia, after receiving the latest Azerbaijani proposals, was considering them and was ready to continue negotiations on the draft agreement, despite the worsening humanitarian crisis caused by the heavy blockade in Nagorno-Karabakh, on September 19, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale military attack against the people of Nagorno Karabakh, which led to the forced displacement of the entire Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh.

“Next, continuing to openly disregard the possibility of returning to the peace process and the efforts of international partners in that direction, the Azerbaijani side did not participate in the meetings at the level of heads of states first in Granada and then in Brussels within the framework of the European Political Community, although these five-sided and tripartite meetings were previously agreed upon,” the Ministry said.

The Armenian side continued to work on the text of the agreement and considered it more effective to present it to Azerbaijan during the supposed meetings. However, in order to prevent the negotiation process from stalling and attempts to achieve lasting peace in the region, the Republic of Armenia has constructively conveyed its views on the agreement and, as before, has proven its readiness to re-engage in the negotiations based on:

• mutual recognition of and respect for each other’s territorial integrity without any ambiguity,
• implementation of the further delimitation process according to the Alma-Ata Declaration and the most recent legitimate Soviet maps;
• unblocking the region’s infrastructure based on full respect for the sovereignty and jurisdiction of states and the principles of equality and reciprocity.

“The Armenian side continues to believe that despite all the complications and challenges, there is a real possibility of establishing peace between the two countries, which can be realized if there is political will on both sides. The Armenian side continues to demonstrate that will. One of the expressions of that will is also the fact that Armenia offered Azerbaijan to hold a meeting of demarcation commissions on the state border between the two countries,” the Foreign Ministry concluded.

The number of journalists killed since the beginning of the escalation of the situation in the Middle East has reached at least 53 people

In January-September 2023, $1,281 million was transferred from abroad to Azerbaijan, down 53.9% from the previous year, Report informs, citing the Monetary Policy Review of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA).