Abkhazia rejects Georgian plan for international administration

The breakaway Abkhazian government in Sukhumi has dismissed the idea of setting up an international administration in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict zone as unacceptable. The administration was proposed by Georgia as a way of guaranteeing security and organising the return of refugees to the Gali region of Abkhazia.

Abkhazian Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba said that the creation of an international administration would bring talks on resolving the conflict to an impasse. He added that the return of refugees was a humanitarian problem, and said that Georgia's attempt to add a political element to it was evidence of Tbilisi's unwillingness to see refugees return.

In an earlier interview with Rosbalt Shamba said that 40,000 refugees (out of a total of 80,000) had already returned to the Gali region. Georgia is in no hurry to confirm this figure officially as confirmation would bring with it humanitarian and financial responsibilities.