Amid rising Georgian-Abkhaz tensions, Secretary-General Ban urges restraint

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for calm and restraint in the face of the current tensions between the two sides to the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict.

Mr. Ban has taken note of the allegations made by both sides about impending threats and the build-up of armed forces in both the zone of conflict and the Kodori valley, according to statement issued by his spokesperson.

The UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG), which has been conducting daily verifications of these claims, has not been able to corroborate many so far, he noted.

The Secretary-General voiced his support for a Security Council resolution from 15 October which “strongly urges all parties to consider and address seriously each other’s legitimate security concerns, to refrain from any acts of violence and provocation, including political action or rhetoric, and to comply fully with previous agreements regarding ceasefire and non-use of violence.”

That resolution also extended the mandate of UNOMIG, which was established in August 1993 to verify compliance with the ceasefire agreement between the Government of Georgia and the Abkhaz authorities, for six months.