UN-led Talks Held without Abkhaz, Georgian Sides

Two-day, UN-sponsored talks on the Georgian-Abkhazian peace process were launched in Geneva on December 13 with the participation of UN Secretary General?s Group of Friends for Georgia, including France, Germany, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and the United States; however neither Georgian nor the Abkhaz delegations are participating in the talks.

The Abkhaz side refused to participate in the talks because of current political turbulence that still persits in the breakaway region, following nearly three months of turmoil that ensued after a disputed presidential election took place on October 3.

?The Georgian delegation was ready to participate in the talks, however we, the Russian side, think that it would be counterproductive to achieve any agreements in absence of the Abkhaz side, because it might trigger doubts and suspicions,? Russian First Deputy Foreign Minister Valery Loshchinin told RIA Novosti news agency on December 13.

?Of course, serious participation by the Abkhaz side in the negotiating process will be possible only after the new President is elected and the new government formed in Abkhazia,? Loshchinin added.
 
UN Secretary General?s Special Representative to Georgia, Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini is also participating in talks.
 
The recent political developments in the unrecognized Republic of Abkhazia and the further prospects of settlement of the Abkhaz conflict are being discussed durring the talks. 
 
Loshchinin said that the next meeting, in frames of UN-led peace process, will be held in March 2005 and will include the participation of the Georgian and Abkhaz sides so that they may discuss the issues of security and the return of internally displaced persons to Abkhazia.

?The political status of Abkhazia remains one of the most difficult issues,? Loshchinin added.