Epress.am News from Armenia
Yerevan-based FC Ararat cancelled the friendly match against Russian Volga, which was planned to be held in Abkhazia capital Sukhumi on January 27, due to Armenia's Foreign Ministry’s admonishment․
“We don't recognize Abkhazia as an independent state, so we were against the friendly match [between Ararat and Volga] being held in Sukhumi,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tigran Balayan told Epress.am Friday.
Echo of the Caucasus earlier reported that the Foreign Ministry of breakaway Abkhazia has described Armenia's move as “unfriendly towards the Republic of Abkhazia.”
“Our two nations have age-old historical ties; there is a large Armenian community living in Abkhazia, and it's an integral part of the multinational people of the country,” Abkhazian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Irakli Tuzhba stated.
With regard to Tuzhba's statement, Balayan told Epress.am that Armenia's Foreign Ministry has no official relations with Abkhazia. “Our decisions and actions are guided only by our national and state interests,” the official said.