Sokhumi Against Tbilisi’s Participation in Abkhaz Rehabilitation Projects

Foreign Minister of breakaway Abkhazia Sergey Shamba and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Georgia Ivo Petrov discussed European Commission-funded infrastructure rehabilitation projects, which are planned to be implemented in the Gali, Ochamchire and Tkvarcheli districts of the unrecognized republic, in partnership with UNDP and the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG), Apsnipress news agency reported on October 31.

Sergey Shamba expressed the Abkhaz side?s interests in implementing these projects, but voiced Sokhumi?s protest regarding ?the UN’s intention to include representatives of the Georgian side in the working groups, so that they could work on the territory of Abkhazia,? according to Apsnipress. ?Georgia pursues political goals, while trying to take part in projects implemented in Abkhazia,? Shamba said.

Ivo Petrov said that these are large-scale projects which require the establishment of a steering committee, with the participation of representatives from UNDP, UNOMIG, as well as the Georgian and Abkhaz sides.

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