U.S. Hails Report on Kodori Attack

The U.S. State Department has hailed the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) for its efforts in investigating and reporting on the attack on upper Kodori Gorge.

A report by UNOMIG, issued on July 12, suggested, but did not explicitly claim, that Russian army helicopters could have been involved in the attack on the Tbilisi-controlled upper Kodori Gorge on March 11, 2007.

?We condemn this violent attack on Georgian sovereign territory,? the State Department said in a press statement issued on July 16.

?The report demonstrates the need for concrete measures to prevent similar attacks in the future.?

The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already called for the establishment of a UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) observation post in upper Kodori Gorge.

In a statement on July 16, it said such an outpost would help prevent a reoccurrence of the March 11 attack.

The attack, according to the ministry, warrants ?the establishment in the village of Azhara of a permanent UNOMIG observation post, with all the necessary equipment at its disposal, including artillery locating radar and unmanned aircraft to control airspace.?

The UNOMIG report suggests not only that army helicopters could have been involved in the attack, but also indicates that the gorge came under artillery fire from Abkhaz-controlled territory.

The U.S. State Department has also commended Georgia for ?continuing restraint? during the attack, as well as for its cooperation with UNOMIG during the investigation.

The State Department also used the opportunity to call on the conflicting sides ?to move forward as soon as possible with the recommendations made by the UN Friends of the Secretary General for Georgia for confidence and security-building measures, including the resumption of direct dialogue at the highest levels.?

?We hope those measures will lead to a peaceful resolution of the conflict within Georgia?s internationally-recognized borders,? the statement reads, ?respecting Georgia?s sovereignty and territorial integrity.?

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