Abkhazia offers stationary posts for Russian, UN observers

Abkhazia, a self-proclaimed republic on Georgian territory, came out suggesting establishing stationary observation posts for Russian peacekeepers and UN military observers in the upper Kodori gorge, the area of Georgia-Abkhazia conflict, Abkhazian Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba told RIA Novosti in a telephone interview Thursday.

Shamba supposes that such posts would "contribute to establishing substantial supervision of the upper Kodori situation." Abkhazia suggested this during the last meeting of the security workgroup, held within the framework of the coordination council for settling Georgia-Abkhazia conflict, Shamba said. However, "this suggestion was turned down by Georgia," he added.

"Situation in the Kodori gorge is now a central issue in relations with Georgia," recalled the Abkhazian minister. "The presence of Georgian armed units there is a violation of the previously concluded agreements between the sides," he underlined.

"Our suggestion was recorded in the documents," said Shamba. He went on to note that "Sukhumi will further insist on setting observation posts in the upper part of the Kodori gorge."