Abkhaz Leader Comments on Peacekeeping Mission

Abkhaz leader Sergey Bagapsh reiterated on November 29 that Sokhumi will oppose the replacement of Russian peacekeepers in the conflict zone with international police forces, the Abkhaz news agency Apsnipress reported.

?We are against Georgia?s and some other countries? desire to replace the Russian peacekeepers with some kind of joint, international peacekeeping forces,? Bagapsh said.

He added that a joint peacekeeping unit from Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transdnestria will be deployed on the border with Georgia if the Russian peacekeepers pull out from the conflict zone.

Bagapsh said a relevant agreement had been reached between the Abkhaz, South Ossetian and Transdnestrian leaders in June, 2006 in Sokhumi.

He also noted that at this point Sokhumi is ready to hold negotiations with Tbilisi only over the withdrawal of Georgian troops from Tbilisi-controlled upper Kodori Gorge in Abkhazia.

?Only after this [pullout] can we resume talks with Tbilisi in the frames of the existing negotiating format,? Bagapsh said.

He also reiterated the Abkhaz side?s opposition to the opening of a UN human rights office and the deployment of a UN police component in the predominantly Georgian-populated Gali district of Abkhazia.

?A UN human rights office already operates in Sokhumi and we do not deem it necessary to open additional offices,? Bagapsh said.

He said that Georgia is trying to involve international organizations and western powers in Georgian-Abkhaz conflict resolution.

?It seems that even [U.S. President] George W. Bush has been involved, according to media reports. it seems that the United States have already dealt with Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan and only Abkhazia is remaining,? Bagapsh said.

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