Bagapsh: No Alternative to Russian Peacekeepers
Abkhaz leader Sergey Bagapsh warned on June 21 that Sokhumi will withdraw from the negotiation process with Tbilisi if the latter further steps up measures aimed at pull out of Russian peacekeeping troops stationed in the conflict zone under the auspices of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Apsnipress reported.
?There is no alternative to the Russian peacekeepers in the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict zone? But if the Georgian side will further insist on withdrawal of peacekeepers we will pull out from negotiation process and the armed forces of Abkhazia will be deployed instead of the Russian peacekeepers. We are capable of protecting our state and our citizens,? Bagapsh said.
On June 21, the Russian peacekeeping forces in Abkhazia marked 12-year anniversary of deployment in the conflict zone. A total of 112 peacekeepers have died in Abkhazia since their deployment in 1994.
The Georgian Parliament is expected to discuss the performance of the Russian peacekeepers in breakaway Abkhazia in July, which may result in a demand for their withdrawal. But the Georgian government seems to be hesitant towards demanding to immediately pull out Russian peacekeepers.
