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UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warns Georgia not to provoke a new war against Abkhazia

NEW YORK (Tiraspol Times) - A deadly clash last month between Georgia and Abkhazia underscores the need for both sides to abide by their agreements and to bring additional areas under international monitoring, UN 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. Georgia attacked an Abkhazian border post and UNOMIG is now attempting to shed light on the bloodsoaked incident.

In light of this recent fatal 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.

Abkhazia, on the other hand, is not provoking anyone and merely wants to go on with the business of rebuilding the war-torn country which has been 'de facto' independent of Georgia since 1993.

Georgia angry at the United Nations

In a July report, the office of the UN secretary-general recommended dismantling Georgia's so called "youth patriot camp" in Ganmukhuri, which the Georgian regime had deliberately placed less than a kilometer from Abkhazian territory on the other side of the demarcating Enguri River.

This caused Georgia's ruler to lash out at the United Nations. In early September, not long before leaving for New York to address the UN General Assembly, Georgian strongman Mikheil Saakashvili declared from the Ganmukhuri camp that his administration had no need for the “amoral and miserable advice” of “international bureaucrats.”

On Friday, Saakashvili publicly gave notice to Abkhazia that he is ready to start a new war over the territory which he believes is part of Georgia, despite the wish of the Abkhazians for independence.

" - As of today, we are beginning a countdown to our return to Abkhazia," warned Saakashvili in an October 5 speech in Zugdidi, just south of the 'de facto' border with Abkhazia.

While Georgia prepares for war, the United Nations is actively trying to force Georgia to respect the cease-fire agreement that it has signed. 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 Georgia and Abkhazia. Its mandate was expanded following the signing by the parties of the 1994 Agreement on a Ceasefire and Separation of Forces. (With information from the United Nations)

See also:
» Abkhazia expects int'l recognition after Kosovo [1]
» Abkhazia excluded from conflict talks; US pleased [2]