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Abkhazian president-elect urges Georgia to sign agreement on non-use of force

Raul Khadzhimba says Georgia should take measures to confirm the existence of the Abkhazian state

Abkhazia's President-elect Raul Khadzhimba ITAR-TASS/Yury Mashkov

Abkhazia's President-elect Raul Khadzhimba

© ITAR-TASS/Yury Mashkov

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SUKHUM, September 01. /ITAR-TASS/. Abkhazian President-elect Raul Khadzhimba on Monday called on Georgia to sign an agreement on the non-use of force.

“Georgia should take measures to confirm the existence of the Abkhazian state. It should sign corresponding documents on the non-use of force,” Khadzhimba said.

The Geneva discussions on security and stability in Transcaucasia are the only platform for this issue. “The process should be continued, but it is insufficient. Any platform where we’ll be able to express our position openly and honestly is important for us,” he said.

Khadzhimba won the presidential elections in Abkhazia on August 24. His inauguration is slated for September 25.

The Geneva discussions are held within the Medvedev-Sarkozy plan signed on August 12, 2008 under the mediation of the UN, the European Union and the OSCE with the participation of Russia, the United States, Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The priority is to sign agreements on the non-use of force between Georgia and Abkhazia, and Georgia and South Ossetia. Georgia refuses to assume unilateral obligations and sign the document with Abkhazia and South Ossetia because it does not recognize their independence.

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Georgia Abkhazia South Ossetia

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