WE WILL ALWAYS BE PROUD OF HIM

It is generally believed that  merciful time cures any pain reconciliating with inevitability of losses and grief of untimely deaths. But still there are irreplaceable, memory about Personality not subject to influence of time. On the contrary, with the time we realize more and more clearly whom we have lost. This is the case with Yury Khamzatovich Kalmykov. 
... I remember winter of 1993. In Abkhazia dramatic events took place whose consequences, no doubt, influenced the fate of the whole Caucasus. Perhaps, Yury Kalmykov percieved that much better than many others due to his natural wisdom and foresight. When being minister of justice of the Russian Federation he was, of course, well informed in order to judge about all possible variants of events“ development. As Adyg, he coudn“t look indifferently at suffering of Abkhaz children, women and old men and deaths of the best sons of the Caucasus on the fronts of Abkhaz-Georgian war. So Yury Khamzatovich used any opportunity to draw nearer the end of bloodshed and prevent its growing over the whole Caucasus. I happened to see how tactful and persuasive he was when analysing causes of the conflict and ways of its reconciliation duting his visit in the USA 
 This visit was arranged by rather authoritative Carter-Centre. The main object of this non-government organization founded by Jimmy Carter is conflicts“ reconciliation. We were invited to international conference which took place in Atlanta (Georgia) in February of 1993. Yury Kalmykov and two Abkhaz women - Liana Kvarchelia and I were granted an opportunity to express our opinion on the problem of Abkhaz-Georgian war and a Georgian representative, in agressive manner, presented his position. It should be noted how dignified was Yury Khamzatovich. His refinement, persuasiveness, charm made the most favourable impression upon organizers, experts and guests of the conference most of whom see representatives of the Nothern Caucasus for the first time. Very influential American politicians, organizations and investigation centres got quite interested in data which we had presented. To judge from questions they asked us some of them are rather well informed on the problem. So, in office of one solid firm we saw a book with lists of Adyg families that had been compelled to leave their homeland as a result of Russian-Caucasus war.
Yury Khamzatovich was greately impressed by a meeting in Nothern Caucasus Centre in New-Jersy with American Adygs, Abkhazes, Vaynakhs and representatives of other Caucasus peoples. It should be noted that in America all these descendants of makhadjirs don“t recognize division according to nationality. They call themselves Caucasians or Circassians. They are convinced that division is artificial and profitable only for enemies of the Caucasus. How distant we are from perception of this simple truth! These were the most touching and important meetings for us in America. Feeling inconsolable pain of these people and their anxiety for the future of Abkhazia and Caucasus as a whole you realize how it is important to prevent repetition of the tragedy that made hundreds thousands people exiles. Yury Khamzatovich felt that very distinctly when speaking at these meetings in Adyg language understandable for most representatives of Diaspora. I remember incessant conversations of Kalmykov with Yakhya Kazan in the house of the latter in Adyg language in the course of which destiny of the Caucasus and problems of its peoples suffering as a result of great political games were discussed.
Liberation of Abkhazia from «defenders of territorial integrity» still doesn`t mean solution of all problems and the end of poignant ordeals of our people. Somebody thought that our dreams about liberty are too audacious.
Punitive measures followed. And again Yury Khamzatovich tried to alleviate strokes of fate and be near both in joy and in grief. His friendly piece of advice was always tactful and wise. His feeling of responsibility and honesty didn“t permit him to keep silent when the matter of bringing troops into Chechnya for «restoration of constitutional order» was solved. Now rightness of Yury Khamzatovich is quite evident, but I can imagine how he felt when in the end of November of 1994 he alone among members of Security Council opposed a proposal of using force against Chechen people. Unlike rulers of Russia, he knew history of the Caucasus perfectly and understood what results such «policy» would entail. In general, Kalmykov“s difference from other Russian politicians was always evident. Judging from his book «Reverses of fortune» he felt himself strange in the political «kitchen» of the modern Russia. As an example one episode might serve which is connected with his activities as a deputy of Supreme Soviet of the USSR. In April of 1990 Yury Khamzatovich found himself among candidates for the post of Chairman of Soviet of Union. In spite of obvious advantage of Kalmykov while voting, A. Loukyanov, speaker of the Soviet parliament of that time, compelled deputies re-vote several times untill I. Laptev was elected who was pleasing to him (and to others). Kalmykov writes about it without any grudge or bitterness. Everyone who knew Yury Khamzatovich intimately had no doubt for an instant that his voluntary resignation from the post of minister was well-thought and highly moral Deed. It was such attitude that created for him great authority in the Caucasus. People were proud of him when he was deputy, minister, but they were proud of him much more when he refused to play in dirty political games and resigned. It was then when Yury Kalmykov became a real leader of the national movement. He managed to do a lot but he would be able to do much more. We feel, more and more acute, absence of this Great Adyg who belongs, however, to the whole Caucasus.
Natella Akaba,
Director of Centre for support
of democracy and human rights in Abkhazia
Sukhum.
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