State Minister Reports MPs on Peacekeepers

Joint hearings of the Parliamentary Committees on Defense and Security and Foreign Affairs were launched on February 12, during which discussions about the situation in the South Ossetian conflict zone and the performance of the Russian peacekeeping troops stationed there will take place.

State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Giorgi Khaindrava will report to the MPs about this issue.

Senior parliamentarians, including Chairperson Nino Burjanadze, are participating in the hearings. The session is also being attended by several foreign diplomats, including U.S. Ambassador to Georgia John Tefft.

Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Defense and Security Givi Targamadze said before the hearings that Russian Ambassador Vladimir Chkhikvishvili was also invited but will not attend the session.

These hearings are taking place ahead of debates at the parliamentary session scheduled for February 15, wherein lawmakers are expected to vote for a withdrawal of the peacekeepers.