Saakashvili Focuses on Human Rights in Abkhazia in Talks with Annan
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| Kofi Annan and Mikheil Saakashvili. Tbilisi, November 19 |
“I am very grateful to Mr. Annan that his first visit [in Georgia] coincided with the second anniversary of the Rose Revolution. Mr. Kofi Annan ends his Near East tour in Tbilisi. This tour was very important for him… We welcome the UN Secretary General, and I would especially like to stress the activities of his Special Representative in Georgia [Heidi Tagliavini] which are directed towards the establishment of peace,” Saakashvili said.
“We are extremely frustrated with the situation in Abkhazia, when in front of our eyes the Abkhaz authorities sell the property which belonged to 80 percent of the legitimate population [of Abkhazia] – Georgians and representatives of other ethnic groups; when almost everyday people are killed, tortured and kidnapped; when another side [Abkhazia] is categorically against the opening of a [UN/OSCE] human rights office in order to establish control. Militarization of this region is underway; more and more weapons are being delivered to Abkhazia,” Saakashvili said.
“Georgia wants peace, but Georgia will never tolerate such infringements of human rights,” he added.
“The main lesson learned from our revolution is: freedom for every person, regardless of their ethnicity. This is democracy for everyone, where integration of all groups takes place. I think that we will give this chance to all regions, including South Ossetia and Abkhazia. I hope that the United Nation will become more active and the member states will enable the United Nations to become more active,” the Georgian President stated.
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