Shevardnadze Refused to Prolong Peacekeeper’s Mandate

(Tbilisi, January 29, 2003. Civil Georgia) – “I did not sign the document on prolongation of the Russian peacekeepers’ mandate and I will not sign it till our demands are not fulfilled,” President Shevardnadze told the reporters today upon his arrival form CIS informal summit in Kiev.

Georgia wants from Russia to close railway connection between Russia and breakaway Abkhazia, to stop granting Russian citizenship to the population living in Abkhazia and to expand peacekeepers’ mandate.

Eduard Shevardnadze said that Russia and Georgia will form a special governmental group to work on these issues.

“Two weeks maybe three week or even a month will be necessary for the work of this commission,” Shevardnadze stated on January 29.

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