Georgian President Outlines Agenda for Abkhazia Talks
At a news conference on March 29 Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said that the protection of Georgians? rights in the Gali district and the return of internally displace persons should top the agenda of planned talks with the Abkhaz side. He also reiterated his readiness to meet Abkhaz leader Sergey Bagapsh.
?In the Gali district Georgians are deprived of their right to learn the Georgian language in school. The first thing we are pushing forward is the issue of opening a UN office to protect the rights of Georgians there [in Gali district]? Secondly, the return of all those persons, not only Georgians, who fled Abkhazia, should start. The right [of IDPs] to return should be recognized by everyone,? President Saakashvili said.
?Thirdly, after the confidence building process [has progressed], the return [of IDPs] and implementation of some, small-scale, economic projects have been launched, we should start very serious talks about the [political] status [of Abkhazia], wherein the Abkhazians? rights will be guaranteed,? he added.
He said most of the Abkhazians realize that it is, as he put it, ?foolish? to think that Abkhazia will be recognized as an independent state.
Saakashvili also said that Georgia will restore its territorial integrity, but ?years are needed,? to achieve this.
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