Bagapsh Visits Moscow, Speaks of Tbilisi’s Hostile Intentions

The Abkhaz side will pull out from talks with Tbilisi if the pre-July situation is not restored in Georgian-administered upper Kodori Gorge in the breakaway region, Abkhaz leader Sergey Bagapsh said at a news conference in Moscow on September 1.

The Georgian authorities sent troops to upper Kodori Gorge on July 25 to crack down on a rebel militia group there. The Russian and Abkhaz sides are now demanding that Tbilisi withdraw its troops from the gorge, as cease-fire agreements prohibit any Georgian military presence there.

But officials in Tbilisi say that only police forces are stationed in upper Kodori Gorge, which is not a violation of the existing agreements.

“I declare officially that Georgia does not want to solve conflicts with Abkhazia and South Ossetia peacefully,” Bagapsh said at a news conference in the office of Interfax news agency.

He added that Georgian troops are planting mines in upper Kodori Gorge, which is a violation of cease-fire agreement.

Bagapsh denied reports about the presence of “voluntary fighters” from Russia’s North Caucasus republics, but added that Abkhazia will use their help if necessary, according to Interfax news agency.

He also said that currently there is no need to hold a repeat independence referendum in Abkhazia. A referendum, which was not internationally recognized, was held in Abkhazia in 1999.

“This is not a kind of thing that is possible to hold every month,” Bagapsh said.

A second breakaway region of Georgia, South Ossetia, is planning to hold a repeat independence referendum by the end of this year.

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