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Georgian-Abkhazian Conflict: Time Out
Tuesday, April 2, 2002
(19:45)
By Dmitry Litvinovich
Pravda.ru

Translated by Maria Gousseva



Georgia and Abkhazia have made first steps towards a peaceful settlement. A protocol on the withdrawal of Georgian Defense Ministry units from the Kodorsky Gorge was signed in Tbilisi today. The protocol provides for a withdrawal of the units by April 10 and recommencement of UN peacemakers and monitors’ regular patrolling in the upper part of the gorge. In accordance with the document, the parties have undertaken the obligation to guarantee the security of the gorge’s population. Special envoy of the UN to Georgia Diter Boden and acting commander of the CIS peacekeeping forces in the conflict area MG Alexander Yevteyev were the underwriters of the protocol.

Russia’s activity in the Caucasus region, especially regarding the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict, has considerably increased within last two or three weeks. The arrival of US experts to Georgia, joint Turkish-Georgian training, the kidnapping of Russian peacekeepers, and recent acts of terrorism in Abkhazia testify to the increasing tension in the region. This, in its turn, may entail lamentable consequences for Georgia and Russia as well.
(More: Pravda.ru News Source)
2002 © Pravda.ru.

Dan