Defense Minister Speaks Out Against Russian Peacekeepers

Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili told Rustavi 2 TV on January 4 that Russian peacekeepers stationed in the South Ossetian conflict zone fail to perform their duties.

?When time for the parliamentary hearing comes, we are ready to submit to the Parliament all evidence which speak that the Russian peacekeepers do not deserve prolongation of their mandate,? Irakli Okruashvili said.

The Georgian Parliament passed a strong-worded resolution on October 10, 2005, which 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.

In February, parliamentarians will hold a hearing during which the governmental officials will report lawmakers about the Russian peacekeepers? performance in the South Ossetian conflict zone.

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