This is the 13th volume in the series of Georgian-Abkhaz dialogue conferences that were launched in 1997 by the University of California, Irvine with funding from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Since 2004 participants from Russia and various international organizations have been involved in the dialogue process. The conferences have had bilateral, trilateral and multilateral sessions involving representatives of various international organizations.
The purpose of this project and its multi-year series of conferences and publications is to facilitate dialogues to help the sides in the conflict reach a mutually satisfactory peaceful resolution. The conferences help keep open the channels of communication between civil society activists, academics, journalists and policy makers from the two communities, and give them access to their counterparts in Russia and various international organizations. Because of the project's dedication to full transparency, the conferences also involve many more people in the dialogues through these
publications and post conference meetings in each community.
This volume includes transcripts of presentations and discussions at the bilateral and multilateral conference held in Istanbul, June 24-27, 2006. The main topic was how Black Sea integration influences the prospects for resolution of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict. As a consequence of the
enlargement of NATO and the European Union, and-to a lesser extent-in connection with the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), the Black Sea is increasingly becoming part of a united space of political and strategic importance. Romania and Bulgaria have already become members of NATO and will soon be joining the EU; Turkey is a NATO member and candidate for EU membership. Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia are being included into the ENP and are striving for NATO membership. Only Russia and the unrecognized republic of Abkhazia remain outside this framework. However, Russia is actively participating in the work of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC).
The first two days of the conference were dedicated to bilateral discussions of current issues in Georgia and Abkhazia, and developments in European integration from the Abkhaz and Georgian perspectives. The second part included the perspectives of experts from Russia, Turkey, and
representatives of the EU and NATO.
Over a period of four days participants from Georgia and Abkhazia discussed among themselves and together with international guests on what conditions Abkhazia would like to or could become part of the integration processes around the Black Sea, and which prospects would emerge for Abkhazia; and what impact these processes would have on resolving the Georgian-Abkhaz
conflict.
Comments and presentations by international participants reflected a growing interest in the European Union to play a role, and to hear grievances on both sides. Discussions reflected serious differences of opinion among the Abkhaz, Georgian, and Russian participants about the realities and
assessments of these processes. The controversies showed that the topic is relevant to all parties. The fact that no agreement was reached on many of the issues indicates the need to continue the discussions because joint analysis of complex regional issues from different perspectives can promote better understanding.