Minister: Withdrawal of Peacekeepers a Risky Decision

The Georgian government has not yet decided if it will demand Russian peacekeepers to withdraw from the conflict zones, ?but we are seriously preparing to take this decision,? Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili said on August 9.

Parliament passed a resolution on July 18 instructing the government to launch relevant procedures in order to immediately suspend, as the document reads, ?the so-called peacekeeping operations? in breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

?We are carrying out a very scrupulous, very serious and deep analysis of all the threats and challenges that might follow this decision,? Bezhuashvili said.

?This is a risky decision, but I think and I believe that this risk is justified,? he said, adding that the peacekeepers are failing to fulfill their duties in the conflict zones.

The Foreign Minister said that the current Russian-led peacekeeping operation is not as impartial as it should be.

He said that Georgia is committed to solving conflicts peacefully, but the government has ?alternative plans as well.?

?The government always has an alternative plans and this is natural? Georgia faces serious challenges. We have peace plans, but we also have plans to protect our national interest. Our national interest and political goal is to restore our territory integrity and of course we have a plan [to reach this goal],? Bezhuashvili said.

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