08/09/2009 15:00 ABKHAZIA, SUKHUM Received from the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Nicaragua on 01.09.2009 Translation from Spanish.

THE GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND UNITY THE PEOPLE, THE PRESIDENT

Managua, August 31, 2009

To Comrade Sergey Bagapsh,

The President of the Republic of Abkhazia Dear Comrade President! One year ago the people of the Republic of Abkhazia underwent tense ordeal when acts of terrorism were taking place in South Ossetia as a result of brutal attacks made by Mikhail Saakashvili's regime. Military aggression caused death and horror in the families of peaceful population. The Russian Federation’s peacekeepers promoting peace and security of the people living in the mentioned Transcaucasia region were also attacked. During the Georgian aggression the weapons forbidden by the International Convention, including cluster ammunition, multiple rocket launcher systems and 500-millimetre bombs were used. On September 5 it is a year since the date of signing the Decree on the recognition of independence of the Republic of Abkhazia by the Government of the National Reconciliation and Unity of Nicaragua followed the recognition made by the Russian Federation. Under the prevailing circumstances the independence recognition was solely correct decision which promoted security of the population of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as peace and security on their borders with Georgia. Tragical events in South Ossetia have once again shown to the international community there is no alternative to peaceful ways of disputes and conflicts settlement. Unfortunately, at the cost of innocent people’s life. Military criminals must be punished. The Nicaraguan people highly appreciate the big contribution to promoting region’s stability and security made by the Russian military frontier guards, deployed on the territory of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on the basis of corresponding bilateral arrangements completely meeting the international legal regulations. The Russian contingent maintain contacts with the EU observers deployed on the Georgian territories adjoining the borders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on the basis of last year's peace arrangements reached between Presidents Dmitry Medvedev and Nicolas Sarkozy. The resent Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Comrade Vladimir Putin’s visit to Abkhazia is evidence that strengthening bilateral relations with your Republic is a priority for Moscow. From our side, the Government of Nicaragua will continue to render political and moral support to the brotherly people of Abkhazia and to develop close intergovernmental cooperation. We will continue to make efforts in future for ensuring strengthening of your country’s position on the international arena. In spite of the fact that at the moment only Russia and Nicaragua recognized independence of new Transcaucasia nations, expansion of the process of the international recognition of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia - whatever distant it may seem - will promote, undoubtedly, further strengthening of peace and security in the region. It is obvious there should be no pressure in such sensitive international legal questions: each member of the international community defines its foreign policy priorities independently. However it is clear that without recognition of new military-political and legal realities in Transcaucasia it will be impossible to develop and expand any forms of international presence in the territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Participation of these republics’ representatives on par with the western partners in the Geneva discussions on stability and security in Transcaucasia, as well as joint mechanisms on incidents prevention and response in the border districts, undoubtedly, confirms Sukhum and Tskhinval’s opinions when considering this region’s vital questions must be taken into account obligatorily. Accept, Comrade Bagapsh, greetings and solidarity of the People and the Government of the civil power of Nicaragua to the People and the Government of the Republic of Abkhazia. Daniel Ortega Saavedra