TBILISI. Jan 13 (Interfax-AVN) - Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze will not sign a document extending the mandate of the Russian peacekeeping force in Abkhazia until the railroad traffic between Sochi and Sukhumi, which was resumed in December, stops. The president made this statement at a news conference on Monday.
"Much will become clear by the end of this month when the UN Security Council holds a special session on the situation in Abkhazia," he said.
Georgian Minister of Transport and Communications Merab Adeishvili and experts will go to Moscow on Tuesday under the president's instruction to hold negotiations with Russian colleagues, Shevardnadze said.
"As soon as we have an official answer as to whether the Russian authorities authorized resumption of the railroad traffic to Abkhazia or if this was done under private initiative, the Georgian administration will take adequate measures in the form of launching a protest to international organizations," Shevardnadze said.
The Georgian administration is not against opening railroad traffic across the Abkhaz territory, Shevardnadze stressed. "On the contrary, Georgia is above all interested in this, but it will be possible only after the beginning of a large-scale return of refugees to Abkhazia," he said.
At the same time, Shevardnadze supports the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Abkhazia. "The question of the withdrawal of the Russian peacekeeping force from Abkhazia should have been raised long ago," he said.
Shevardnadze noted that they should also think about "developments that might follow."
The withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers could result in the conflict being resumed, which does not meet the interests of Georgia, he said.
The international community has not authorized internationalization of the peacekeeping force in Abkhazia, although "the matter may be discussed at the forthcoming session of the UN Security Council in late January," the Georgian leader said.
The Georgian administration continues to consult with many countries, including Russia, on making the peacekeeping operation in Abkhazia efficient, Shevardnadze said.