The Foreign Minister of Abkhazia commented on Georgia's desire to return the republic to its membership

Abkhazian Foreign Minister Oleg Bartsits commented on Georgia's desire to return the republic to its membership. In an interview with a RIA Novosti correspondent, he called Tbilisi's corresponding desire "phantom pains."

The diplomat told why Abkhazia and Georgia has not yet signed an agreement on the non-use of force.

"This is a consequence of the fact that the phantom pains of the Georgian leadership have not yet been eliminated, a significant part of the Georgian establishment still has a desire to return Abkhazia to Georgia. This is a utopia," the minister said.

Bartsits added that some of the far-sighted politicians in the Georgia realizes that Abkhazia will not become its region, but does not voice it publicly.

As a result of the armed confrontation that took place in 1992-1993, Abkhazia declared its independence from Georgia. In 2008, Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia. Since then, Georgia has considered this territory occupied, and the Abkhaz authorities have been striving to recognize their international status and develop good-neighborly relations on an equal footing.

Besides the Russian Federation, Abkhazia's independence has been officially recognized by four other states: Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru and Syria.