Sukhum welcomes Heidi Tagliavini

Heidi Tagliavini, the head of the EU international commission investigating the Georgian-Ossetian conflict, arrived in Sukhum for a 3-day working visit. On March 3 she met with President of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh and Foreign Minister Sergey Shamba.

"Abkhazia and South Ossetia have not committed military aggression that is why we like no one else seek fair and objective evaluation of tragic events of August 2008", - president Bagapsh emphasized at the meeting. As the government press service reports the Abkhazian leader told about the situation preceding the August events mentioning that the Abkhazian leaders had repeatedly warned the UN representatives and EU diplomats of Georgia's preparations for the war.

In addition to the August events Bagapsh and Tagliavini discussed the human rights situation in the region. According to Abkhazia's president following the successful completion of the war operation in Kodory Valley the authorities provided all facilities for the return of civilians to the villages.

Sergey Bagapsh also mentioned the topic of military base construction that arouses open discontent of the West. According to the President Georgia does not abandon its aggressive intentions while the USA and EU keep providing military assistance to it. That is why Abkhazia turned to Russia asking it to increase its military presence in the region. "Activity of Georgian raiders in Galy district shows that Georgia is still eager to get Abkhazia back by force. In case of a military aggression the Abkhazian side will take adequate measures", - he explained.

Foreign Minister Sergey Shamba stated in his turn: "We are interested in the presence of Russian military bases here as they are the only reliable security guarantee for us. We want these bases to be deployed as soon as possible". Shamba also complained about a long borderline stretch with Georgia that the Abkhazian army has difficulties to control on its own. "If we had normal relations with Georgia we would solve problems in a different way", - the head of the Foreign Ministry concluded.

It is hard to say whether Bagapsh and Shamba managed to convince Mrs Tagliavini. The head of the international commission made a diplomatic conclusion. "Our work is not public, - Tagliavini is quoted on yuga.ru - It is examination of facts and our main goal is to establish cooperation with all parties. We rely on it".

The international mission investigating August events started its work early last December.

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