Georgian, U.S. Officials Discussed Abkhazia

Visiting U.S. Department of State?s special representative for Eurasian conflicts Steven R. Mann, who is also a Senior Advisor for Caspian Basin Energy Diplomacy, met with newly appointed Chairman of the Abkhaz government-in-exile Irakli Alasania in Tbilisi on October 17.

After the talks Alasania told reporters that he informed the U.S. official about the current situation in breakaway Abkhazia, which has been strained since the October 3 presidential elections in the unrecognized republic.

?I also informed Mr. Mann about the threat posed by those armed groups which have been infiltrating into Abkhazia from Russia,? Irakli Alasania added.

Georgia accused Russia of sending extra troops to breakaway Abkhazia. Tbilisi also expressed protest over the mobilization of armed groups from the paramilitary Confederation of North Caucasus People.