Aslan Bzhania, the de facto president of Russian-occupied Abkhazia, said he is “ready to normalize relations with Georgia.”

As Bzhania noted during an online press conference organized by Interfax on July 3,” Abkhazian citizens are interested in having normal relations with Georgia.”

“We don’t have a problem. We recognize the Georgian state, the rights deriving from the Georgian state. However, it is another matter that they do not recognize us. I do not know how far such a policy will take us. I think it is unconstructive,” Bzhania said.

While speaking about Georgia’s peace initiative – ‘A Step Towards a Better Future,’ the de facto president noted that “based on the preamble of the document, Georgia’s the most important goal is peace.”

“We welcome such an approach. In this regard, it is unclear to me why the agreement on non-use of force against Abkhazia has not been signed yet, if peace is the main value for the Georgian government and population.

We do not ask the Georgian authorities to recognize the state of Abkhazia, but an agreement on non-use of force will allow us to engage in humanitarian, economic and any other kind of dialogue,” Bzhania said

De facto president of occupied Abkhazia was asked about NATO’s active cooperation with Georgia. As Bzhania responded to the question,” Abkhazia is cooperating closely with the Russian Defense Ministry. He said, “Abkhazia is not interested in escalating the conflict, but should be prepared to resist possible aggression.”