Ivanov Comments on Georgian Resolution on Peacekeepers

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov said on October 11 that the Georgian Parliament?s resolution, which sets a performance deadline for the Russian peacekeeping troops stationed in the Abkhaz and South Ossetian conflict zones will not influence the peacekeepers? activities, the RIA Novosti news agency reported.

?The Georgian side has the right to push the issue of changing the mechanism of withdrawal, but these decisions cannot affect the current activities of the peacekeepers,? Ivanov told reporters in Paris on October 11.
 
He described the Georgian Parliament?s resolution as ?political? and stressed that the Russian peacekeepers are stationed in South Ossetia and Abkhazia under ?a relevant mandate, which cannot be changed unilaterally.?
 
The Parliament?s resolution instructs the Georgian government to take measures to prepare for the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from the South Ossetian and Abkhazian conflict zone if the performance of the peacekeeping forces does not improve before February, 2006 and July, 2006 in South Ossetia and Abkhazia respectively.

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