Bagapsh, Khadzhimba to be one team

Sergey Bagapsh and Raul Khadzhimba have come to the agreement that they will participate in a new presidential election in Abkhazia as members of one team: Bagapsh as a presidential candidate, and Khadzhimba as a candidate for the post of vice president. Such a decision was made in the course of negotiations yesterday, December 5. The negotiations were conducted with the participation of Russian Deputy Prosecutor General Vladimir Kolesnikov, Abkhazian Prime Minister Nodar Khashba, and Vice Speaker of the Russian State Duma Sergey Baburin. Bagapsh emphasized that he and Raul Khadzhimba would be in one team, no big difference in authorities existing between the president and vice president of Abkhazia, except for the title. The new election in Abkhazia is to be held on January 13, 2005.

Talking about the sides? armed groups, Mr Khadzhimba said that "the question of withdrawing all armed groups from the town will be settled as soon as everything is finally agreed." "The main thing we must do is to put off the inauguration of a new Abkhazian president whether one likes it or not," Sergey Bagapsh said.

One of the key points of the agreement reached by the sides is that necessary conditions will be created for the normal work of all authorities in the republic of Abkhazia.