Russia for Other Countries’ Involvement in Abkhazia Peacekeeping Operation

(Tbilisi, May 23, Civil Georgia) – Russia has nothing against the internationalization of the Peacekeepers’ contingent in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict zone, Russian President’s envoy for the Abkhazian conflict resolution Loshchinin stated today.

After the meeting with Georgian Foreign Minister Irakli Menagarishvili Russian official said at the news briefing “Russia supports involvement in the peacekeeping operation other countries.”

Russian peacekeeping forces are deployed in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict zone since mid-1994 under the auspices of the Commonwealth of Independent States [CIS].

Ukraine has already expressed readiness to participate in the peacekeeping operations in case it is carried out under the auspices of the UN and not the CIS.

The Russian peacekeepers’ mandate was in the top of the agenda during the talks between the Russian Presidential envoy, which is the Deputy Foreign Minister as well, and the Georgian delegation, led by Irakli Menagarishvili on May 23.

Georgian side demands to widen peacekeepers’ mandate in the entire Gali district of breakaway Abkhazia in order to facilitate peaceful return of the IDPs in this region of breakaway province.