Georgia's Armed Units Are In Kodori Gorge -- Abkhazia's Leader

On Thursday Anri Dzhergenia, Prime Minister of Abkhazia (a self-proclaimed republic in the territory of Georgia) came up with assertions that 200 men-strong armed formations of Georgia are currently deployed in the zone of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict in the Kodori gorge. At a press conference in Moscow Dzhergenia said that, in the figures of the Abkhaz side, Georgia is trying to seal a status for its armed formations by their mere presence in the gorge. Asked by RIA Novosti about the setup in the Kodori gorge, which last October was penetrated by a large group of Chechen and Georgian militants, Dzhergenia said that snow has now fallen in the gorge and, therefore, hostilities and clashes have ended. Abkhazia is trying to cut short possible clashes and settle the problem by political methods. During his present visit to Moscow Anri Dzhergenia has had negotiations with representatives of the Russian Foreign Ministry. He said that Abkhazia demands from Georgia recognition of the violation of the earlier signed bilateral agreements, withdrawal of troops from the Kodori gorge and observance of the ceasefire agreement.