Georgia Dismisses Russia’s Claims over Return of IDPs to Abkhazia

(Tbilisi, September 3, 2003, Civil Georgia) – The Georgian Foreign Ministry does not agree with First Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Valerie Loshchinin, who said that the problem of the return of IDPs to breakaway Abkhazia has been settled, Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Kakha Sikharulidze said on September 2.

“Relying upon an unreliable source, Loshchinin says that the relevant bodies of the UN confirm the the return of IDPs to the Gali district [of break!
away Abkhazia]. How can the issue of IDP return be solved, when there are no security guarantees in Gali?” asked the Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister.

During a recent visit to Sukhumi, Valerie Loshchinin met with Abkhaz de facto Prime Minister Raul Khajimba. Loshchinin stressed the importance of enabling Georgian displaced persons to return to their abandoned homes in Abkhazia and praised the measures taken by the Abkhaz de facto government to prepare for this process.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)