Georgia: Abkhaz officials hail Sochi talks
...BUT REJECT FEDERATION, PROPOSED MULTINATIONAL ADMINISTRATION
Ardzinba, Gagulia, and Shamba were, however, unanimous in their rejection of Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze's proposal to grant Abkhazia broad rights within a federal state. They also rejected the idea of a joint Russian-Abkhaz-Georgian police force and local administration for Abkhazia's southernmost Gali Raion. Shevardnadze told journalists in Tbilisi on 10 March that agreement was reached on that issue a year ago. But Gagulia denied this, adding that the topic was not raised at the Sochi talks, Caucasus Press reported. Ardzinba dismissed the proposed joint local administration as an attempt by Georgia to extend its jurisdiction over Abkhaz territory, noting that the constitution of the unrecognized Republic of Abkhazia does not provide for any joint bodies of power with Georgia, Interfax reported on 11 March. LF
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