Abkhazia: Annan Calls Abkhazia Peace Talks Encouraging
“The willingness of the Georgian and Abkhaz sides to resume, after a prolonged suspension, their participation in the negotiation process is a welcome development, and may usher in a period of renewed possibilities for progress,” Annan says in an update to the Security Council on the situation in breakaway Abkhazia.
“Sustained and coordinated external support will be crucial for progress,” he added.
Kofi Annan called on the Abkhaz side to ensure free and unrestricted access by the UN human rights office in Sukhumi to places of detention, in accordance with the mandate of the office.
He also hailed talks in Geneva in April of the so-called Group
of Friends – France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom
and the United States – which brought both sides together for the first
time since suspension of the contacts in July 2004.
Source: Civil