Kofi Annan, Sergei Mironov discuss Iraq and Georgia-Abkhazia situation

Sergei Mironov, Speaker of the Russian Federation Council, parliament's upper house, and United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan met in New York Monday to discuss the UN's role in the modern-day world and the new threats facing the global community.

The conferees noted the importance of UN Security Council Resolution 1511, which empowers the UN Secretary General to fix the date of a conference on Iraq's constitution and elections in the country, said Mr Mironov.

Kofi Annan wanted to know Mr Mironov's opinion on what is going on in the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict zone.

"I said the dialogue on the problem was going on." A recent CIS summit in Yalta adopted a series of mainly economic decisions, such as ways to unblock the road linking Sochi, Sukhumi and Tbilisi, resume work at the hydropower station, ensure refugees' return to Abkhazia's Gal district. They are to clear the way for political solutions, said the speaker.

Russia stands up for Georgia's territorial integrity and a special status and position of Abkhazia. This is Russia's firm position on the matter, recalled Mr Mironov.

Mr Annan, for his part, updated the Russian senator on changes to be made to the UN's structure, which above all refer to the number of the Council's permanent members. The relative proposals will be finalised by the next, 59th, session of the UN General Assembly.