TBILISI. Jan 21 (Interfax-AVN) - Georgia is looking for arguments on the international arena to preserve its jurisdiction over Abkhazia, the Georgian president's aide Shalva Pichkhadze told Interfax-Military News Agency on Tuesday.
"The stepping up of relations between Georgia and international organizations including NATO and the EU is an alternative to the policy that is being conducted in Abkhazia where residents of the self-proclaimed republic are granted the Russian citizenship and where train service is between Sochi and Sukhumi without Tbilisi's consent," Pichkhadze said.
"International organizations give Georgia an opportunity to legally keep Abkhazia," he noted.
According to Pichkhadze, Georgia is especially relying on the support of the United States and other friendly Western countries.
Commenting on media reports that Georgia will make its stance on the Russian military tougher in response to the developments in Abkhazia Pichkhadze stressed that "the Georgian party continues negotiations so that the Russian bases are withdrawn from the republic in a civilized way".