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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan made a statement claiming that “Azerbaijan recognizes the territorial integrity of Georgia and calls on the citizens of Azerbaijan to apply to Georgian authorities for traveling to Abkhazia and Southern Ossetia.” In this respect Abkhazian Foreign Minister Sergey Shamba gave comments to Panorama.am.

-Mr. Shamba, how do you evaluate the recent statement made by official Baku on recognizing the territorial integrity of Georgia?

-We could not expect anything else from Azerbaijan, and we have even given no answer to that statement. We have been much surprised by Belarusian Foreign Ministry statement, and we fell concerned about the Belarusian MFA to make a statement differing from its leadership disposition, as the sanctions applied towards Abkhazia are the continuation of those sanctions which CIS applied towards Abkhazia by the demand of Georgia. Then Belarus did not sign any of those documents.

-Why have you ignored the statement made by Azerbaijan?

-Because Azerbaijan is a member of GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova) states and has adopted adverse policy towards us. Generally, citizens of Azerbaijan do not travel to Abkhazia.

- Do you think that Baku statement could be a “message” to please Washington?

- They have done it to protect Georgia. They keep together in everything. They are somehow united.