Border Guards will Replace Troops in Kodori gorge

(Tbilisi, February 18, Civil Georgia) – Georgian border guard or other special units will replace Defense Ministry’s troops in Kodori gorge, President Shevardnadze stated at the news briefing on February 18.

UN Security Council’s resolution of January 31 recommends Georgia to withdraw its troops from upper Kodori gorge, the only territory in breakaway region of Abkhazia controlled by the Georgian government.

President stated that presence of Georgian Defense Ministry’s military units in the gorge contradicts the 1994 Moscow agreement.

Representatives of unrecognized Abkhazian government state that they will agree to continue peace talks with the Georgian side only in case of withdrawal of Georgian troops from Kodori gorge.