Abkhaz leader, Sergey Bagapsh, said in an interview with the Russian news agency, RIA Novosti that Sokhumi did not expect recognition from Ankara in foreseeable future, but wanted to establish economic relations with Turkey.

“[Sokhumi has] normal, good neighborly relations with Turkey. A large Abkhaz diaspora lives there. How they [relations] will develop – it’s hard to predict for me, because I understand situation within Turkey itself; I do not foresee recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by Turkey in the nearest future,” Bagapsh said.

“We are in favor of good neighborly relations; it should be launched with economic [relations], movement of people, communication links should be opened between Abkhazia and Turkey. These processes can be launched,” he added.