Peace Operations Update - 13. Oktober 2006 to 19. Oktober 2006

Caucasus/Georgia

18.10.2006, Georgia’s UN Envoy upbeat about internationalization of Abkhaz peace process(Source: Reliefweb)UN Secretary General’s Group of Friends on Georgia, involving Germany, France, Russia, UK and the U.S., will meet in January 2007 in Geneva, where proposals on the possible internationalization of the peace process in Abkhazia will be discussed, Georgia’s Ambassador in the UN Irakli Alasania said on October 16. Weiter / More

18.10.2006, Abkhazia asks Russia to recognize its independence(Source: RFE / RL)Abkhazia's parliament today sent an official appeal to the Russian president and Russian parliament asking for recognition as an independent state. The Abkhaz parliament's document said Abkhazia has all the necessary attributes for sovereignty. Weiter / More

17.10.2006, EU criticizes Russia(Source: RFE / RL)EU ministers show "total unanimity" in an unusually sharp criticism of Russia's actions against Georgia. European Union foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg on October 17 sharply criticized Russia for the economic blockade and other measures it imposed on Georgia in the wake of a diplomatic spat between the two countries. The move was a departure from the neutral stance the EU has maintained since Russia hit out at Georgia in the wake of Tbilisi's arrest of four Russian officers on spying charges. Weiter / More

16.10.2006, Tbilisi fears Russian recognition of rebel regions(Source: ISN Security Watch)Fears are growing here that Russia may up the ante in its escalating dispute with Georgia over Tbilisi’s arrest of four Russian officers on espionage charges. Moscow has so far retaliated by imposing economic and transport sanctions against Tbilisi, deporting Georgian citizens and clamping down on Georgian businesses on Russian territory. But analysts now fear that Moscow may turn the heat up even further by unilaterally recognizing the breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. They’re also concerned that the growing tensions will provoke a new round of fighting over these territories. Weiter / More

16.10.2006, Both Moscow and Tbilisi claim UN reolution a “victory”(Source: EurasiaNet)Both Russia and Georgia have hailed the United Nations Security Council’s October 13 resolution on the Abkhazian conflict zone as a victory for their respective policy positions on Georgia’s right to reclaim the breakaway Black Sea region. The Russia-sponsored resolution called on the Georgian government to refrain from provocative actions in the breakaway region of Abkhazia, whose separatist government has strong ties to Moscow. It also extended by six months the mandate of United Nations (UN) monitors in the conflict zone, which was due to expire on October 15. Weiter / More

13.10.2006, Security Council extends mandate of UN mission in Georgia(Source: UN News)Voicing concern about fresh tensions in the long-running dispute between Georgian authorities and Abkhaz separatists, the Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) by another six months. Council members, voting unanimously, also called on Secretary-General Kofi Annan to explore with both sides how they can build confidence, improve security and reduce tensions in the upper Kodori Valley and the districts of Gali and Zugdidi. Weiter / More

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