UN Envoy: Abkhaz Side Ready to Renew Talks

Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Georgia, Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini said today that the Abkhaz side expressed willingness to renew talks with the Georgian side. 

“Abkhaz side is ready to hold talks with the Georgian side without any conditions,” Heidi Tagliavini said after the meeting with Interim President Nino Burjanadze on January 15.  

Ambassador Tagliavini visited breakaway Abkhazia’s capital Sukhumi on January 13, where she held meetings with the representatives of the Abkhaz side over resumption of talks between the conflicting sides.

Earlier on January 8 Vice President of breakaway Abkhazia Valeri Arshba said peace agreement with Georgia, which would prevent resumption of hostilities in the region, would be a favorable foundation for beginning of talks with Georgia’s new leadership.

He also said that disbanding of “the gangs and armed groups that are committing terrorist acts and sabotage in Abkhazia” would have a positive impact on the peace process and “build mutual trust.”