(Tbilisi, June 21, Civil Georgia) – Parliament is to discuss the status of Abkhazia today. The Legislative branch will also talk about prolongation of mandate of Russian peacekeepers located in Georgian-Abkhazian conflict zone. The mandate expires on June 30.
US State Department released a statement on June 20 suggesting the Georgian side to prolong the mandate.
Tamaz Nadareishvili, Head of Tbilisi-based supreme council of Abkhazia, called the statement an ultimatum. He said reason of the statement is unclear.
Giorgi Baramidze, former Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security, member of the United Democrats faction, presumes that US does not want the conflict to restart. In case of Russian peacekeepers’ withdrawal armed clashes may be initiated, which opposes Georgia’s and United States’ interests, he said.
Because of the absence of quorum the Parliament session was delayed for hour and a half. According to the Parliamentary Chairperson, MPs preferred to watch football match between Great Britain and Brazil rather than attend the session.