No agreements reached at five-sided meeting in Gali, Abkhazia

On March 2, in Abkhazia, at a meeting in Gali, the working group on prevention of and reaction to incidents in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflicts zone, no agreement was reached on any point. This was reported by Levan Tevzaya, who represents the government of the Abkhazian Autonomous Republic in exile, recognized by Tbilisi. Delegates from Abkhazia, Russia, Georgia UN and EU took part in the meeting.

"We discussed many pressing problems, including the issue of crossing the administrative border, but failed to agree on any, said Mr Tevzaya. According to his version, the Abkhazian and Russian parties are strengthening the border with Georgia.

"After the end of this process, the administrative border will probably have several crossing points. The meeting also discussed violations of human rights," The Media Centre of Abkhazia quotes Levan Tevzaya as saying.

During the meeting, the Georgian party raised the issue about transporting the body of Demur Gogokhiya who died in the Dranda Prison; however, the Abkhazian party gave no answer.

Along with that, the Georgian party also raised the issue of releasing the Georgian kept in custody in Abkhazia - Abesalom and Enver Dzandzava, Valter Gulua and Yuri Shariya.

Ruslan Kishmariya, head of the Abkhazian delegation, did not clarify what was meant as the change of the border travel regime. As to the deceased Gogokhiya and other detained Georgians, Mr Kishmariya said: "Gogokhiya was a bastard and criminal who committed plenty of crimes both in the territory of Abkhazia and in the territory of Georgia. He had been sentenced and died in prison. We don't keep detained Georgians, we keep convicted criminals, whose nationality doesn't matter."

As to his estimate of the meeting in Gali, Mr Kishmariya said that "it was positive, there's reason to meet and talk, and we'll go on," as the "Echo of the Caucasus" Radio reports.

The parties also considered restoration of air communication with Moscow and the criminal situation in the Gali District, as the "GHN" Agency reports.