Shevardnadze Says Abkhazian Conflict Can Be Resolved Only Through Direct Dialogue And International Efforts

The conflict in Abkhazia can be resolved through direct Georgian-Abkhazian dialogue and bringing together international efforts, said Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze during his meeting with the OSCE ambassadors' delegation at the Krtsanisi residence Tuesday. The Georgian president expressed his regret that the draft of the document demarcating constitutional authorities between Tbilisi and Sukhumi had not been agreed upon and the UN Security Council had not adopted it. This document, when adopted, could contribute greatly to the resolution of the Abkhazian problem, according to Shevardnadze. He also said that the UN activities in Abkhazia were inefficient. The president reassured that after the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia were resolved, these regions would be granted autonomy within the federation according to the international practice. Thus, each autonomy will have a government and a parliament of its own, and, besides, they will be represented in the central bodies of power. Shevardnadze did not rule out that a two-chamber parliamentary system with a senate to represent the autonomies might be established.