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Russia sends additional troops to Abkhazia

01 May 2008 09:18 (UTC +04:00)

So-called foreign minister of separatist Abkhazia Sergei Shamba said the number of peacekeepers had been increased according to the ceasefire agreement signed in Moscow on May 14, 1994. According to this document, 3000 troops can be deployed in the conflict zone and there were nearly 2000 peacekeepers there over the past 14 years. Ukraine and Georgia issued a joint statement on Wednesday and called on Russia to avoid its plans regarding Abkhazia and South Ossetia. They have expressed concern about Russiaâ€™s efforts threatened the territorial integrity of Georgia. Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and Georgian leader Mikhail Saakashvili condemning Russia’s recent statements on the possibility of Russia using military force â€œto protect its compatriots in Abkhaziaâ€. â€œIt can be evaluated as threatening with military force and it is direct provocation against Georgiaâ€, the statement reads. The presidents noted that Georgian-Abkhazian and Georgian-Ossetian conflicts could be resolved peacefully only on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions, with respect to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within the internationally-recognized borders.