Additional Probe Needed into Reported Kodori Shelling

A four-party joint group will have to pay additional fact-finding visit to the Tbilisi-controlled upper Kodori Gorge in order to put forth final conclusions about reported shelling of the area on March 11, the Abkhaz and Georgian sides confirmed on March 23.

The joint fact-finding group (JFFG), consisting of UN observers, Russian peacekeepers, as well as representatives from the Georgian and Abkhaz sides, will travel to upper Kodori Gorge with an aim to gather additional evidence.

The JFFG examined the multiple sites of the March 11 incident in the upper Kodori Gorge on March 13-16.

Tbilisi claims at least three army helicopters entered into the Georgian airspace and shelled the villages of upper Kodori Gorge late on March 11 damaging administrative buildings. Georgian officials claim that the area also came under the artillery fire from the Abkhaz-controlled territories.

JFFG is headed by the UN Observer Mission in Georgia, but as far as it also involves representatives of Russian peacekeepers, Georgian and Abkhaz sides, a conclusion of the group should reflect the views of all four members.

JFFG has been in existence since January, 2000 and is convened by the UNOMIG?s chief Military Observer, or by the request of any other party to look into the reported incidents that may concern violation of the Moscow 1994 ceasefire agreement.

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