Russian Peacekeepers Stay in Abkhazia

(Tbilisi, July 1, 2003, Civil Georgia) – President Eduard Shevardnadze said at the news briefing on June 30 that he supports continued deployment of the Russian peacekeepers in Abkhazia. He also said the troops would be withdrawn immediately should one of the sides (Georgian or the Abkhaz) demand it.

Georgian Foreign Ministry has already sent to Moscow a draft agreement concerning the issue. The Russian peacekeepers? mandate expired on June 30.

Head of the Tbilisi-based Abkhazia government-in-exile Tamaz Nadareishvili is categorically against of this decision and demands immediate withdrawal of the Russian peacekeepers from Abkhazia.

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