Benetton retreats ’under political pressure’
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 01, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Benetton Turkey backed away from its decision to open a store in Abkhazia’ due to political pressure from Georgia, the Wall Street Journal reports. This is the first time a global brand has been targeted over Abkhazia links, the paper says
Benetton Turkey has backed away from its original plan to open a store in Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia, after coming under heavy pressure from Tbilisi, the Wall Street Journal has reported.
"The fashion company’s controversial plan to launch a fashion shop in a war-ravaged corner of the former Soviet Union has drawn it into a bitter political dispute," the newspaper wrote in its weekend issue. "Benetton Group has revoked its decision to open the shop in the disputed Black Sea region of Abkhazia after senior Georgian politicians expressed anger and Benetton retailers in Georgia closed their stores in protest. This is the first time an international brand has been targeted over its links to Abkhazia."
The plan to open up shop in Sukhumi, the capital of Abkhazia, met with protest from seven Benetton shops in Georgia, which closed their doors in protest, the Journal wrote.
Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze described Benetton Turkey’s proposed move as "outrageous," the newspaper reported.
Diplomatic contacts
"If any company wants to carry out its activities through violations, it will entail legal, commercial and other consequences," Vashadze said. The Wall Street Journal quoted Lasha Zhvania, Georgia’s minister for economic development, as saying he "hoped the Turks would take adequate measures to prevent the national interests of Georgia being damaged."
"After the foreign ministry raised the issue with Turkish diplomats in Tbilisi, the fashion company quickly changed its mind about opening the shop," the newspaper added.
Maia Burduli, marketing manager for the Benetton outlets in Georgia, said the reversal was a victory for her staff and her country. "It was unacceptable to us that the Turkish company was intending to open a shop in the occupied territory of Georgia," the Wall Street Journal quoted her as saying. "The only way we had to express our protest was to close our shops."
Added the newspaper: "In Abkhazia, this will be seen as another example of Georgian intimidation aimed at economically isolating the region and thwarting its desires for genuine independence."
"The fashion company’s controversial plan to launch a fashion shop in a war-ravaged corner of the former Soviet Union has drawn it into a bitter political dispute," the newspaper wrote in its weekend issue. "Benetton Group has revoked its decision to open the shop in the disputed Black Sea region of Abkhazia after senior Georgian politicians expressed anger and Benetton retailers in Georgia closed their stores in protest. This is the first time an international brand has been targeted over its links to Abkhazia."
The plan to open up shop in Sukhumi, the capital of Abkhazia, met with protest from seven Benetton shops in Georgia, which closed their doors in protest, the Journal wrote.
Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze described Benetton Turkey’s proposed move as "outrageous," the newspaper reported.
Diplomatic contacts
"If any company wants to carry out its activities through violations, it will entail legal, commercial and other consequences," Vashadze said. The Wall Street Journal quoted Lasha Zhvania, Georgia’s minister for economic development, as saying he "hoped the Turks would take adequate measures to prevent the national interests of Georgia being damaged."
"After the foreign ministry raised the issue with Turkish diplomats in Tbilisi, the fashion company quickly changed its mind about opening the shop," the newspaper added.
Maia Burduli, marketing manager for the Benetton outlets in Georgia, said the reversal was a victory for her staff and her country. "It was unacceptable to us that the Turkish company was intending to open a shop in the occupied territory of Georgia," the Wall Street Journal quoted her as saying. "The only way we had to express our protest was to close our shops."
Added the newspaper: "In Abkhazia, this will be seen as another example of Georgian intimidation aimed at economically isolating the region and thwarting its desires for genuine independence."