Sener Gogua: If we close down the Turkish business in Abkhazia, we will lose a great deal of money.

Interview to “Nujnaya Gazeta”.

The relations between Russia and Turkey directly apply to Abkhazia. All these years we’ve been saying, that Russia is our strategic economic partner, our good neighbor, who has always been supporting us. At the same time Turkish Republic is our second economic partner and, what it more important, it is a home to large number of representatives of Abkhaz diaspora.

The decree signed by Vladimir Putin will have economic consequences for Abkhazia. It's not a secret that we are working with Turkey. Foreign trade between Turkey and Abkhazia is about 200 million USD. If you look at the investments, more investments come from Turkey through representatives of Diaspora than from Russia. This is the sphere of agriculture, tourism, fishing activities, forest industry – here are all Turkish investments.

The visa regime between Turkey and Russia, which is going to be introduced from January 1, will impact the economy of Abkhazia, Turkish investments in our country, as all investors, all the ships come via Russia. Even representatives of the diaspora come through Sochi, and all the ships come to Abkhazia through the Russian maritime territory.

I am sure that in the near future this issue between Russia and Turkey will standardize. Of course, we need to strengthen control measures on the border. ISIL - is an international terrorism, and we cannot guarantee anything today. We must protect our borders, strengthen supervision, but to close the border – is not a solution of the issue, it will not bring anything to the economy of Abkhazia.

No one knows how events will develop. Now all investors and businessmen are waiting to see how the situation will develop further. But nothing prevents the Turkish business in Abkhazia. In addition, the entire Turkish business in Abkhazia is carried out together with representatives of our diaspora. Abkhazia and Turkey are not enemies. The Turkish government made a big mistake, and it has to be responsible for that. But to end up the relationship at all- will not give positive results. We cannot go back to Soviet era and completely close all the borders. There are problems, they must be solved, and there are diplomats to solve them.

I talked with Abkhaz students who study in Turkey. They don’t have any problems. Today, Turkey has not imposed any sanctions against Russian citizens. Entering Turkey with a Russian passport is not a problem. We are constantly in touch with our students, compatriots, and now everyone is waiting how the situation will develop.

In the fight against international terrorism, we support the Russian Federation. And if the Russian-Turkish relations do not improve, it will affect the relations between Abkhazia and Turkey.