OSCE Chairman welcomes agreement on Ajara situation in Georgia
The OSCE Chairman-in-Office (left) visited the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, on 15 March, where he also met the Georgian Catholicos-Patriarch, Ilia II. (Bulgarian Foreign Ministry/Bulgarian News Agency) Photo details
SOFIA, 19 March 2004 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Solomon Passy, welcomed an agreement reached yesterday between Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and the Head of the Ajara Autonomous Republic, Aslan Abashidze.
"This a very positive development for the whole region," Bulgarian Foreign Minister Passy said.
"Tension has been defused through negotiations. I congratulate President Saakashvili and Mr Abashidze for their determined search for a non-violent resolution of the issue."
During a visit to Georgia earlier this week, Solomon Passy had urged the two sides to continue talks to resolve tensions around Ajara and end the standoff by peaceful means.
The OSCE Chairman-in-Office added that the easing of tension in Georgia will contribute to the free and fair conduct of parliamentary elections on 28 March.
"This a very positive development for the whole region," Bulgarian Foreign Minister Passy said.
"Tension has been defused through negotiations. I congratulate President Saakashvili and Mr Abashidze for their determined search for a non-violent resolution of the issue."
During a visit to Georgia earlier this week, Solomon Passy had urged the two sides to continue talks to resolve tensions around Ajara and end the standoff by peaceful means.
The OSCE Chairman-in-Office added that the easing of tension in Georgia will contribute to the free and fair conduct of parliamentary elections on 28 March.