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Tbilisi, Moscow Engaged in Abkhazia Railway Row
Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 2004-09-11 11:47:08
Georgian Foreign Ministry has summoned the Russian Ambassador to
Vladimir Chkhikvishvili to express protest over, as Tbilisi put
it, "unilateral and illegal" decision of Moscow to resume railway
connection with unrecognized Abkhazian Republic.
In a statement issued on September 10, the Georgian Foreign Ministry
described the move as "a violation of Georgia's sovereignty." The
railway connection between Moscow and Sokhumi, capital of Georgia's
breakaway Abkhazia was resumed on September 10.
According to the agreement signed by the Presidents of Russia and
Georgia in March, 2003, the return of internally displaced persons
to Abkhazia and resumption of the railway should be simultaneous
processes.
However, Ambassador Chkhikvishvili told the reporters after meeting
with the Georgian Foreign Ministry officials that Russia "is not
violating the agreements."
"The sides have agreed earlier that it is not always necessary to
synchronize these two processes - return of the IDPs and resumption of
the railway [communication] - if there is a progress in one direction,
we should not stop and should move further," Vladimir Chkhikvishvili
said. The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued on
September 10, that restoration of railway will benefit the entire
South Caucasus region, including Georgia and Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 2004-09-11 11:47:08
Georgian Foreign Ministry has summoned the Russian Ambassador to
Vladimir Chkhikvishvili to express protest over, as Tbilisi put
it, "unilateral and illegal" decision of Moscow to resume railway
connection with unrecognized Abkhazian Republic.
In a statement issued on September 10, the Georgian Foreign Ministry
described the move as "a violation of Georgia's sovereignty." The
railway connection between Moscow and Sokhumi, capital of Georgia's
breakaway Abkhazia was resumed on September 10.
According to the agreement signed by the Presidents of Russia and
Georgia in March, 2003, the return of internally displaced persons
to Abkhazia and resumption of the railway should be simultaneous
processes.
However, Ambassador Chkhikvishvili told the reporters after meeting
with the Georgian Foreign Ministry officials that Russia "is not
violating the agreements."
"The sides have agreed earlier that it is not always necessary to
synchronize these two processes - return of the IDPs and resumption of
the railway [communication] - if there is a progress in one direction,
we should not stop and should move further," Vladimir Chkhikvishvili
said. The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued on
September 10, that restoration of railway will benefit the entire
South Caucasus region, including Georgia and Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress