06 January 2007, 22:15
Russia will go on with its peacekeeping mission in Abkhazia and South Ossetia
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Russia has made a statement on situation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The text of the statement published by the IA "Osinform" runs as follows: "According to the available information, the president of Georgia wants to move an ultimatum in his speech at the 61st Session of the UN General Assembly on termination of peacekeeping operations in Abkhazia and South Ossetia in the existing format and on withdrawal from there of Russian peacekeeping forces and replacement of them by some international police forces... Whereby, the Georgian party is trying to reload on Russia and its peacekeepers its own fault for the deadlock situation of the conflict settlement process." However, by assertion of the Russian MFA, the leaders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia "are unequivocally stressing the vital necessity of the presence of Russian peacekeeping contingents in the venue. It is also confirmed by numerous appeals of public and humanitarian organizations, rank and file citizens from these regions with requests for protection against outside encroachments till the final settlement of the conflicts."
