TBILISI. Feb 1 (Interfax-AVN) - The Georgian leadership has assured the United Nations that it will prolong the mandate of Russian peacekeepers in Abkhazia, and pertinent documents will be finalized by February 15, Georgian Foreign Ministry spokesman Kakha Sikharulidze said at a briefing on Friday.
The renewed mandate will envision the expansion of the control zone to the Galidzga River in the Ochamchiri district and security guarantees for local residents, Sikharulidze said.
"Unless the expansion is stipulated in the mandate, the Georgian leadership will raise the issue of withdrawing Russian peacekeepers from the conflict zone," he said.