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Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Answer

Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Her Majesty's Government's policy is on the situation concerning Abkhazia in the Republic of Georgia; whether he has made any recent representations regarding the presence of Russian forces; whether there are any plans for mediation and the provision of observers and peacekeeping forces on the part of international organisations; and if he will make a statement. [189913] Mr. Rammell: The Government support the territorial integrity of Georgia and Georgia's right to control its own borders. We believe that the conflict can only be resolved and a long-term sustainable solution found, by peaceful negotiation between the parties. Being a member of the Friends of the Secretary General on Georgia, the UK actively supports the dialogue process headed by the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General. Efforts are under way to prepare for another round of these talks but they are not imminent. The UK's own Special Representative to the South Caucasus is our senior official on the Friends Group. He often travels to the region and to capitals to explore possibilities to move towards a solution. The Russian peacekeeping forces in Abkhazia are there by agreement of the parties to the dispute. A UN observer mission (UNOM1G), including a British component, is also present. This mission was established in 1993 to verify compliance of the Cease-Fire Agreement between Georgia and Abkhazia.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

425 c303W; 189913

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Borders Peacekeeping operations Peace negotiations Georgia Abkhazia

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk