SECRETARY-GENERAL STRONGLY URGES BOTH SIDES TO GEORGIAN-ABKHAZ CONFLICT TO REFRAIN

 

FROM ANY ACTS OF VIOLENCE, PROVOCATION; CALLS FOR CALM, RESTRAINT

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General has taken note of the concerns expressed by the two sides to the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict and allegations made by both sides about impending threats and major build-up of armed forces in the zone of conflict and the Kodori valley.  The United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) has been conducting daily verification of these claims, many of which have, so far, not been confirmed by the situation on the ground.

In the current volatile context, the Secretary-General calls for calm and restraint.  He supports the call made by the Security Council in its resolution 1781 (2007) of 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.”

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For information media • not an official record