De Facto Abkhazia Says Direct Dialogue Possible if Non-Force Agreement Signed

Georgia’s breakaway region of Abkhazia has said it is prepared to open direct dialogue with Tbilisi if there is a “signing of a non-use of force agreement” between the two parties, said the so-called Minister of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia, Daur Kove.

“During the International Geneva Discussions, we came up against a complete lack of understanding on the Georgian side about the existing problems, and a categorical refusal to sign a document on the non-use of force. From our point of view, such a document could be a good basis for Georgian-Abkhaz negotiations with the mediation of the Russian Federation and other international parties,” Kove said.

“The problem is that, for the realization of this initiative, we need a reliable platform on which the process will be based. This platform could be an agreement on the non-use of force […] We hope that this time the Georgian authorities will demonstrate the political will needed to move towards the practical realization of their own statements,” Kove added.

Kove’s comments were a response to a recent statement made my Georgian Prime Minister, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, who said that Georgian authorities would like progress to be made within the International Geneva Talks.

The Georgian PM added that he is ready to take part in the negotiations for dialogue between Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Tom Day