Lakoba criticized Shamba for participation in talks with the Georgian side in South Tirol, Italy, saying South Tirol can not be an example of a type of settlement to the conflict, as it is an autonomy and Abkhazia is an independent state.

Shamba told journalists "during the 8 years of negotiations I have conducted we have not yielded anything [to Georgia]. In 1994, still before my appointment, the was a document signed which talks about the return of displaced persons and the restoration of relations between Georgia and Abkhazia."

"We are trying to twist ourselves out of the things which were signed earlier," Shamba said. He added that it is necessary to continue talks because "while the diplomats are involved, a military solution is impossible."

"If we refuse [to participate in talks] this would mean the end of the peacekeeping work. The UN mandate in the zone of conflict should end so the issuance of a new mandate, which would include possible peace enforcement, could emerge... So we will continue negotiaions and will go to all meetings, but we will never compromise on anything," Shamba noted.

Source: Civil