Georgia condemns Abkhaz refusal to attend talks

Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze has advised Abkhaz Premier Anri Djergenia to "reconsider calmly" his written refusal to participate in the session of the UN-sponsored Coordinating Council scheduled for 17 July, Caucasus Press reported. Following the murder last week, allegedly by Georgian guerrillas, of four Abkhaz civilians (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 12 and 13 July 2001), Djergenia had said Sukhum will not participate in that meeting to protest the Georgian leaderships support for what he termed "international terrorism." Georgian Minister for Special Assignments Malkhaz Kakabadze condemned Djergenia's statement as "not serious." LF
=A9 2001 RFE/RL, Inc. All Rights Reserved.