President’s Briefing. Monday, October 15, 2001.

Abkhazia – Main Reason for Unplanned President’s Briefing

Situation in Abkhazia was a main theme of President’s Briefing on October 15th. The briefing was not scheduled for this day. Usually President meets journalists on every second Monday. Last briefing has been held on October 8th.

Shevardnadze commented President Putin’s statement regarding withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Abkhazia. Georgian President welcomed the statement, however he mentioned that the withdrawal process would require long period of time.

Shevardnadze expressed his wish to replace Russian units with Ukrainian peacekeepers. However, he underlined that Abkhazian side would be against Ukrainians.

President stated that even if Russian peacekeepers would leave the conflict zone, Russia would remain as a main mediator between the conflicting sides.

“Regulation of Abkhazian conflict would determine restoration of friendly and neighborly relations between Georgia and Russia,” said Shevardnadze. Putin’s statement about necessity of new frame-agreement between the two states gives such a hope.

“I believe that Putin won’t repeat mistakes of his predecessor Boris Yeltsin and will not play negative role in Abkhazian issue,” Shevardnadze stated. Georgian President called upon Abkhazian leaders to resume peace talks. Tbilisi proposes Abkhazia wide autonomy within the Georgian state. If Abkhazian side would not agree, Georgia would have to restore its territorial integrity with the means of force, however this would happen only in extreme case, said Shevardnadze.

“I am ready to conduct negotiations with anyone, Jergenia (de facto prime-minister of Abkhazian regime) or someone else. I am ready to visit Sukhumi,” stated Shevardnadze.

Fighting between Georgian-Chechen groups and Abkhazians take place near Sukhumi and Gulripshi. Shevardnadze could not provide exact figures about losses of both sides due to lack of information. President does not exclude possibility of participation of Kist population of Pankisi valley in the clashes.

“Definition of the Parliamentary Majority Should Be Revised”

During October 15th briefing, President Shevardnadze tackled current situation in the parliament as well.

He expressed hope that despite dissolution of the Majority, there would be parliamentarians who would keep supporting President’s every initiative and such parliamentarians would be greater part of the Parliament, including Opposition members. “I think that definition of the Majority should be changed. The Majority is the group, which supports any initiative of the President,” stated Shevardnadze.