Sokhumi wants to establish a dialogue and direct links with the European Union without the mediation of Tbilisi, Foreign Minister of breakaway Abkhazia Sergey Shamba told visiting EU officials in Sokhumi on January 17, Apsnipress news agency reported.
 
“Abkhazia is a part of Europe and we have the right to integrate into European society... I do not think that linking Abkhazia with Europe will be effective through Georgia or through any other state. It is necessary to establish direct ties,” Shamba said.

“We want to be successfully involved in the new strategy of the European Union, and the fact that EU borders are getting closer to us is very appealing,” Shamba added.

The European Union delegation, led by Hugues Mingarelli, the European Commission Director for Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia, arrived in Sokhumi on January 17 to hold talks with the Abkhaz leadership and Sokhumi-based non-governmental organizations.