Russian Peacekeepers Prepared Plan of Possible Pull-Out

(Tbilisi. March 4, 2003. Civil Georgia) – Russian media sources reported today quoting unnamed Russian Defense Ministry official that the Russian Peacekeeping forces deployed in Abkhazian conflict zone prepared plan of withdrawal from Abkhazia.

On February 28 representatives of the Russian peacekeepers visited administration of Zugdidi (town near the Abkhazian conflict zone) to coordinate the plan of withdrawal with the local authorities.

According to the unknown source in Russian Defense Ministry quoted by the Russian news agency Iterfax, ?the Russia peacekeepers might leave the conflict zone by the end of July,? when the peacekeepers? mandate expires.

Georgia extended Russian peacekeepers? mandate, deployed in Abkhazian conflict zone under the auspices Commonwealth of Independent States, in mid-February.

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