The parliament of the unrecognized Republic of Abkhazia on 18 March ratified an appeal to the Russian government to grant Abkhazia \"associate membership\" of the Russian Federation. The leaders of both Abkhazia and the similarly unrecognized Republic of South Ossetia formally requested such status for their respective republics a year ago, and the Russian State Duma responded with a statement reserving the right to consider granting such status. \"Associate status\" of the Russian Federation would oblige Abkhazia to coordinate with Russia its defense, foreign, and economic policies and formally to adopt the Russian ruble as its currency. Hinting at possible public opposition to such close ties with Russia, parliamentary Defense and National Security Committee Chairman Harri Samanba argued that the Abkhaz leadership should undertake a survey of popular attitudes to joining Russia. In Tbilisi, Georgian Foreign Minister Irakli Menagharishvili predicted that Moscow will persuade the Abkhaz leadership that its aspirations to associate membership of the Russian Federation are totally unrealistic. (Caucasus Press)