Russia Calls for Renewal of Abkhaz Peace Talks

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed hope on January 13 that the Georgian and Abkhaz sides will launch talks, following the final resolution of the election crisis in breakaway Abkhazia.

?We hope that now that the election-related situation is close to its end, resumption of negotiations over the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict settlement will be possible. Russia is a member of the [UN Secretary General?s] Group of Friends for Georgia [which also includes France, Germany, United Kingdom and the United States] and will foster a peaceful resolution of the conflict,? Sergey Lavrov said, Interfax and RIA Novosti news agencies reported.