Georgia Does not Have Right to Make Decisions Unilaterally

(Tbilisi, August 27 2002, Civil Georgia) “Georgia do not have the right to make decisions unilaterally about withdrawal of peacekeeping forces from South Ossetia”, General-Major Vasil Prizemlyn, Commander-in-Chief of collective peacekeeping forces in Tskhinvali region, told “Interfax”.

“Decision on withdrawal of joint peacekeeping forces 0f Russia, Ossetia and Georgia van only be made by the approval of the three parties”, declared Prizemlyn while commenting on decision made by Georgian Parliament August 26 to withdraw Russian peacekeepers from Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

“The main difference between peacekeeping operations in Abkhazia and South Ossetia is that Russian peacekeeping forces operate there under the auspices of CIS and could be withdrawn if one party demands”, remarked the General.

President Shevardnadze made a statement concerning this issue August 26. According to him, “acceleration of this process may provoke new conflicts in the regions”.