Russia
”s foreign minister said on Thursday that Western nations are blocking
Moscow
”s plans for a non-violence pact between
Georgia
and its rebel region of Abkhazia by insisting on the return of Georgian refugees.
Russia
had presented a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council calling for a deal on the non-use of force between Georgia and Abkhazia, amid rising tensions and fears of military conflict. The return of Georgian refugees from Abkhazia had been proposed in a Germany-sponsored peace plan and sought by
Tbilisi
.
Sergei Lavrov said work on the peace deal “was blocked yesterday by the categorical refusal of our Western partners,” who want to link the document “to the return of refugees, which at this stage is entirely unrealistic.”
“Signing an agreement on Georgian refugees” return to Abkhazia is impossible at the moment, as the situation first needs to be improved and trust restored. Only then can subsequent discussions be held on the matter,” he said.
Russia had earlier also demanded that Georgia first withdraw troops from the upper part of the Kodori Gorge, occupied in 2006 in violation of a 1994 ceasefire agreement.
Germany
has proposed a three-stage plan for resolving the Georgia-Abkhazia conflict.
Germany
says all sides must renounce violence and ensure Georgian refugees” gradual return to the region.
