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UN:
RECENT CLASH ILLUSTRATES ONGOING GEORGIAN-ABKHAZ TENSIONS -BAN KI-MOON:
08/10/2007 (MaximsNews Network)
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UNITED NATIONS - / MaximsNews Network /
- 08 October 2007 -
A deadly clash last month between the
Government and Abkhaz sides in Georgia underscores the need for both sides to
abide by their agreements and to bring additional areas under international
monitoring, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a new report.
Despite
relative calm in recent months, the incident that occurred on 20 September is
“the most serious incident involving the Georgian and Abkhaz sides in many
years,” Mr. Ban writes in his latest report on the situation in Abkhazia,
Georgia.
He notes
that the incident took place outside the area of responsibility of the UN
Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) and the Commonwealth of Independent States
(CIS) peacekeeping force. With the permission of both sides, UNOMIG is trying to
clarify the circumstances.
In light
of this recent clash, Mr. Ban recommends that areas between the zone of conflict
and the Kodori Valley be put under international monitoring, with the deployment
of unmanned aerial vehicles and artillery radar.
At the
same time, he stresses the need to “prevent the weakening of the ceasefire and
separation of forces regime.”
“We
will continue to insist on the obligation of both sides to keep their armed
personnel clear from one another, observe the restrictions of the
restricted-weapons zone and respect the agreed notification and verification
procedures,” the Secretary-General writes.
He adds
that the continued suspension and absence of security dialogue between the
Georgian and Abkhaz sides, UNOMIG and the CIS peacekeeping force can only
compound recent negative developments, such as the “dangerous stand-offs”
that have occurred during the reporting period between the Georgian side and the
CIS force.
In
addition, Mr. Ban notes that while some progress was made between the Georgian
and Abkhaz sides on technical and humanitarian issues, the gap between them on
political dialogue remained.
“The
overall approach to the settlement of the conflict remains that a successful
dialogue on security, the return of internally displaced persons and refugees,
economic rehabilitation and humanitarian issues would help bring about a
comprehensive political settlement of the conflict,” he writes.
With the
mandate of UNOMIG set to expire shortly, the Secretary-General recommends that
it be extended for six months, as its presence continues to contribute to
security in the conflict zone and international efforts to promote a peaceful
settlement.
UNOMIG
– currently comprising 133 military observers and 19 police officers – was
established in August 1993 to verify compliance with the ceasefire agreement
between the Government of Georgia and the Abkhaz authorities in Georgia. Its
mandate was expanded following the signing by the parties of the 1994 Agreement
on a Ceasefire and Separation of Forces.
Labels: United
Nations, U.N.,
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