Russia Ready to Discuss Modification of Peacekeepers’ Mandate

(Tbilisi, February 5, Civil Georgia) – Russian news agency Interfax reports on February 5, quoting unknown official of Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry that Moscow is ready to discuss with Georgia possibility of modification of Russian peacekeepers’ forces deployed in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict zone.

Georgia demands to change peacekeepers’ mandate and relocate them deeper into the Abkhazian territory at Galidzga river. Georgian authorities believe that this will enable displaced persons to return at least in Gali district of breakaway region of Abkhazia.

Georgian government agreed to prolong Russian peacekeeping troops’ mandate till June 30 2002.

Peacekeepers in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict zone are deployed under the auspices of Commonwealth of Independent States since mid-1994.