The Council of the local branch of the WAC was established during a meeting of representatives of the World Abaza Congress with residents of Gagra and Gagra districts.

Said Bargandzhia

Representatives of the World Abaza Congress met with residents of the Gagra districts and spoke about the activities of the organization, its goals and objectives on Wednesday 27 February. As a result of the meeting, the Council of the local branch of the WAC was established in Gagra, which was headed by the deputy head of the administration of the Gagra district Gennady Tsvizhba.

Gennady Tsvizhba noted that the residents of Gagra showed a genuine interest in the work of the Congress, many wanted to join both the Council of the local branch and become members of the WAC.

“We hope for a good result. We want to involve more people who support the ideas of the Congress with all their hearts. We want to implement joint projects on language and demography. We have the same problems as everywhere else in the country. We will think, we will work together,” he said.

The freestyle wrestling coach Astamur Aristava also joined the Council of the Gagra local branch, who considers it extremely important to support the ideas of the Congress in all regions of the country and notes the need for joint public work for the common good.

“We are pleased that the Congress is now represented by us. Today we listened to the ideas, goals and objectives of the organization and we share them. I hope we can do something really necessary and important for our town and the republic as a whole,” said Aristava.

The Council of the local branch of the WAC in Gagra included 14 people: Astan Agrba, Slava Sakaniya, Temur Tania, Felix Jikirba, Alla Beiya, Madina Akusba, Edgar Papba, Amina Aristava, Rabstan Bartsits, Zakan Agrba, Tengiz Gabunia and Samson Demérdzhipa.

Arda Ashuba, a member of the Supreme Council of the Congress, director of the Abkhaz Institute for Humanitarian Studies, attended the meeting with the residents of the Gagra district, who addressed the audience and spoke about the importance of the goals set for the organization for the entire Abkhaz-Abaza ethnic group.

“We are representatives of one ethnos and should be together, especially in the modern world, when there are so many opportunities for communication. We must take into account all the mistakes that have alienated us in the historical past. There are actually a lot of us (Abkhaz and Abaza - ed.) and we should be together. We must make every effort to preserve our languages. We have a lot of work ahead and a lot of plans,” he said.

Executive Secretary of the Congress Inar Gitsba, leaders of the Women's and Youth Councils of the WAC Geta Ardzinba and Levan Torchua, press secretary and issuing editor of the web information portal of the Congress Said Bargandzhia and Izolda Khagba, representative of the ANO “Alashara” in Abkhazia Alyas Ayba and member of the Supreme Council Inver Alshundba attended the meeting with the residents of Gagra.

The meeting of representatives of the World Abaza Congress with activists of the Gagra district is the fourth of the planned series of meetings with residents of towns and districts of the Republic of Abkhazia. During these meetings, representatives of the World Abaza Congress talk about the goals and objectives of the organization, about the implemented and planned projects. Such meetings will be held in all regions of the country to attract new members to the Congress and actively include them in activities.