I remain deeply convinced that further progress in the peace process is possible only through participation of both sides in genuine negotiations," Annan said in a report Wednesday to the U.N. Security Council on the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia.

He said while Special Representative Heidi Tagliavini is still in close and frequent contact with both sides they have not met at the political level since July and even the regular working level contacts have been suspended. He fears the process has come "perilously close" to a standstill.

The secretary-general voices hope that after the October "elections," the Abkhaz side "will muster the political will" to return to the U.N.-led peace process without preconditions and to seek solutions at the negotiating table.

As for the Georgian side, Annan urges it to maintain its commitment to pursuing settlement of the conflict in Abkhazia and other internal disputes exclusively by peaceful means.

Source: The Washington Times