 ABKHAZIA FOR THE INTEGRATION OF THE BLACK SEA
The break-up of the Soviet Union had far-reaching consequences on Turkey’s close neighborhood. The business minded population of the Turkish Back Sea cities, helped by the geographical and cultural proximity, started penetrating into their rediscovered neighborhood. In the 90’s, Abkhazia rose as a major destination for people and commodities originating from the Turkish Black Sea coast. A bus connection was established between Trabzon and Sukhum. Some 3000 Turkish businessmen, most of them of ethnic Abkhazian origin, left in the early 90’s for Sukhum. The establishment of a direct maritime connection between Sukhum and Trabzon in 1994 sustained a continuous flow of passengers. A ferry called Ritza operates twice a week between Trabzon and Sukhum till 1996. The ferry was usually fully booked.
Contents
Executive Summary
1. Turkey rediscovers Abkhazia
1.1. Rediscovering the geography
1.2. The Abkhazian Diaspora in Turkey
1.3. The Basharan College
2. The isolation of Abkhazia: from the CIS embargo to the
Russian Federation’s unilateral lifting of the sanctions, 1996-2008
2.1. Abkhazia at a glance
2.2. The years of strict maritime and land embargo, 1996-2001
2.3. Progressive unilateral lifting of the isolation regime, 2001-2008
3. The economic integration process with the Russian Federation
3.1. Progressive revivalism with the easing of the isolation
3.2. The new legislative framework set after the recognition of
Abkhazia by the Russian Federation
4. Abkhazia’s economic relations with Turkey
4.1. Turkish-Abkhazian trade at a snapshot through the lens of a repatriate
Abkhazian businessman from Turkey
4.2. Mining sector : coal mines
4.3. Perspective of a Turkish businessman from Trabzon
5. Abkhazia’s integration with Black Sea Region:
pragmatism over formalism, integration over isolation
5.1. Questioning the embargo and blockade
5.2. The role of Turkey in ending Abkhazia’s isolation
5.3. The importance of in-land transportation links
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