Zhvania: Kokoev Declined Talks

Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, who visited South Ossetian conflict zone on December 30, told reporters, that the South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoev ?declined? bilateral meeting with him.
 
During his visit to the Georgian villages of the breakaway region, the Prime Minister met with the local population and Georgian peacekeepers deployed in the conflict zone.

He said that people living in the conflict zone ?are real heroes.? ?I came here to thank them on behalf of the president and the government,? he added.
 
Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Goga Khaindrava also accompanied the Prime Minister to the conflict zone.