Russia’s UN Envoy Comments on Abkhazia in Paper Interview

Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin said in an interview with the Russian daily Kommersant published on January 29 that “certain positive moves” have been seen regarding the situation in Abkhazia, but “we also think that it is early yet to say that Georgia has fully fulfilled the provisions of the UN Security Council resolution.”

He named the resumption of the monitoring of Tbilisi-controlled upper Kodori Gorge in Abkhazia jointly by UN observers and Russian peacekeepers as one positive development, but added that the monitoring has occurred only twice and inspection should take place on a regular basis.

He also noted that recently the Georgian side has shown a “more respectful attitude” to the Russian peacekeeping forces stationed in the conflict zone.

The Russian diplomat said that both of these positive trends are mainly results of the UN Security Council’s recent resolution on Abkhazia, which was approved in October 2006.

Churkin also said that Georgia still has to remove 500 of its law enforcers from upper Kodori Gorge. He said that this force may be used for “offensive actions.”

Monitoring of upper Kodori Gorge in mid-December revealed the presence of about 250 Georgian personnel Interior Ministry uniforms in upper Kodori Gorge, according to the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG).
 
The Russian Ambassador also said that Tbilisi should stop promoting the Abkhaz government-in-exile.
 
The Kommersant journalist asked the Russian diplomat: “Is there a reference – maybe not a direct reference, but anyway – in the UN Secretary General’s report to the existence of a link between a final solution of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict and possible solution to the Kosovo status?”

“This is true. This aspect was also mentioned during the consultations in the Security Council. It is clear – and Jean Arnault [Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Georgia] has confirmed this – that Tbilisi has certain concerns regarding a precedent the Kosovo solution will obviously set,” Churkin said.

Kosovo is mentioned in the UN Secretary General’s report dated with January 11, which covers developments in Abkhazia for the previous three months and outlines the situation in upper Kodori Gorge.

“For its part, the Georgian Government stresses that the police deployment in the upper Kodori valley and the presence there of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia do not contravene the 1994 Moscow Agreement on Ceasefire and Separation of Forces. Moreover, the Georgian side believes that while this presence within the boundaries of Abkhazia, Georgia, may be unacceptable to the Abkhaz side, it is necessary in order to forestall any recognition of Abkhazia, particularly in the context of ongoing status talks on Kosovo,” the report reads.

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