The representative of the President of the Russian Federation and the prime minister of Abkhazia discussed the possibility of the start of negotiations between Sukhumi and Tbilisi

The prospects for the resumption of the negotiation process between Tbilisi and Sukhumi on the basis of taking into account the legitimate interests of both parties were discussed by the special representative of the President of the Russian Federation on the issues of the Georgian-Abkhaz settlement Valery Loshchinin and the Prime Minister of the unrecognized Republic of Abkhazia Gennady Gaguli. The meeting took place on January 31, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

During the meeting, Gaguli announced the readiness of the Abkhaz side to consider the issue of the return of refugees to the Galsky district and agree on measures to economic rehabilitation of the conflict zone.

In addition, the parties examined the situation around the collective peacekeeping forces of the CIS in the Zerunso-Abkhaz conflict zone in connection with the refusal of Georgia to consent to extend their mandate.

In this regard, the Prime Minister of Abkhazia reacted with understanding to the opinion of the Russian side that the peacekeeping contingent could not and should not be in the “legal vacuum”. At the same time, he expressed anxiety about the possible development of events in the Zerzino-Abkhaz conflict in the case of the departure of the peacekeepers of the CIS, the Russian Foreign Ministry noted.