Mar 20, 2006

Abkhazia: Georgia Rebuffs Negotiations


The Foreign Ministry of Georgia lashed out at Moscow blaming on it the absence of constructive approach to resolving the conflict between Georgia and Abkhazia
The Foreign Ministry of Georgia lashed out at Moscow blaming on it the absence of constructive approach to resolving the conflict between Georgia and Abkhazia. The accusing statements were made straight after the departure of Russia's Ambassador-at-Large Mikhail Bocharnikov from Tbilisi and Sukhumi. The grudge of Tbilisi roots in the Moscow meeting of presidents of Russia, Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In Georgia, they fear Russia may attempt to set forth contestable status for Abkhazia and South Ossetia in time of that meeting.

Ambassador-at-Large Mikhail Bocharnikov, who is responsible for Abkhazia in the RF Foreign Ministry, paid a three-day visit to Georgia. In Tbilisi, Bocharnikov held negotiations with Minister for Separatist Conflicts Georgy Khaindrava and a few officials of the Foreign Ministry of the country.

In Bocharnikov’s interpretation, the highlight of his visit to Tbilisi and Sukhumi was “consulting with parties as to on which stage we are in settlement and where to move further on.” He said he talked over the current procedures of settlement, including the Sochi working groups. “Georgia has agreed that the work of these two groups should be revived in the near term. After it, it will be possible to speak of resuming the dialog of parties.”

As it turned out the Foreign Ministry of Georgia views the talks differently. Bocharnikov was in Sukhumi, when Tbilisi stepped in with a statement of accusation. Russia has stuck to the old practice, Georgia said, it has no political will to resolve the conflict and constructively cooperate with Georgia.

Actually, Tbilisi’s discontent could be attributed to Russia’s proposal to hold in Moscow a meeting of presidents of Russia, Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. With the Kosovo conflict nearly resolved, Russia may attempt to set forth for Abkhazia and South Ossetia the status of territories allegedly contestable between Georgia and Russia, said a source with the state machine of Georgia on condition of anonymity.

Source: Kommersant