From 4 to 6 December, 2015 on the basis of the official registration and confirmation Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Abkhazia took part in the International Tourism Exhibition «GREEK EXPO», organized by the Greek company «LEADEREXPO» with the support of the Ministry of Tourism and Shipping of Greece.

Thus CCI has introduced a tourist, agricultural and investment potential of the Republic of Abkhazia.

As we know on 8 December 2015, already at the end of the exhibition, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to Greece Joseph Nanobashvili in a statement demanded an official explanation from the organizers regarding the participation of the Republic of Abkhazia as an independent state. Moreover, he demanded an apology for the incident a "misunderstanding", commenting on the fact that, say, "so-called CCI of RA - illegally occupied region took part in this exhibition."

In a categorical statement, he also said the "Action Plan of the Georgian Embassy in Greece." In particular, the intention of the Embassy to apply to the International Association of Chambers of Commerce, the world organization of chambers of commerce, the international media, as well as diplomatic missions to the proposal "to show more attention to in the process of registration of participants of international events, to escape these unpleasant facts."

In this regard, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Abkhazia declares:

The people of the Republic of Abkhazia exercised their right to self-defeating in a bloody war of 1992-93 with Georgia.

In 2008, the Russian Federation, followed by the other countries, in accordance with international law recognized the independence of Abkhazia and established her official diplomatic relations.

Today, despite of the great loss of life and damage caused by the war, we are building a democratic, law-based state. And each of us trying to promote our country on the assumption of our capabilities. Activities of CCI carried out in the same direction.

For years, the CCI of RA participates at various international exhibitions in Turkey, Germany, Italy, Serbia, Kyrgyzstan, Greece and other countries, while respecting the rules of the organizers of these exhibitions.

In this regard, we believe that the participation of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Abkhazia in the International Tourism Exhibition «GREEK EXPO» in Athens is totally legal. From the standpoint of international law, it does not require the approval of any third party, and the recognition of the Republic of Abkhazia by foreign states or organizations and their willingness to cooperate with us is exclusively their personal prerogative. Neither the Embassy of Georgia in foreign countries nor Georgian emigrants could not prevent Abkhazia in the implementation of its sovereign rights enshrined in official international documents.

Sincerely,

CCI of RA.