SUKHUMI. April 17 (Interfax-AVN) - The CIS Collective Peacekeeping Force in the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict zone suggests upgrading the 302nd observation post in the Zugdidi district of Georgia into a status of a checkpoint.
"The Collective Peacekeeping Force in the conflict zone thinks that upgrading the observation post in the village of Khudoni, Zugdidi district, will provide better security in the area, especially around the Inguri Hydro Power Plant," a competent source in the Force HQ told Interfax-Military News Agency Thursday.
The status of a checkpoint gives the peacekeepers a right for more thorough inspection of motor cars, which will be of critical importance when the traffic increases in spring. "Criminals and terrorists may take advantage of that (more intense traffic - Interfax-AVN), while the monitoring function of the observation post is severely restricted. That makes it difficult for peacekeepers to prevent clashes," the source said.
The plan of the reform has been submitted to Georgian and Abkhaz representatives, the source added.
"The Abkhaz Defense Ministry thinks that the peacekeepers suggest right things to do and agree to the action. This is a trouble area, so the upgrade of the post is necessary," Levon Galustov, the press secretary of the Abkhaz defense minister, told Interfax-AVN.
On the other hand, Tbilisi is not likely to agree. Acting head of the representation of Georgian peacekeeping force in Abkhazia Valeri Dzhaparidze said that "Georgia has enough means to provide the security of the Inguri Hydro Power Plant on its own." He also said that the Georgian authorities were unlikely to agree to the upgrade of the post.