MOSCOW. April 30 (Interfax-AVN) - The self-proclaimed republic of Abkhazia has suggested resumption of aerial patrolling in the volatile Kodori gorge, Abkhaz Defense Minister Vyacheslav Eshba said on Friday.
"Resumption of Kodori gorge patrolling was discussed at the talks between Abkhaz Defense Ministry leaders and Major General Kazi Ashfaq, head of the UN military observer mission, Eshba told Interfax-Military News Agency by phone from Sukhumi.
The fall 2003 floods caused serious damage to motorways and bridges in the area, that is why resumption of unmounted or automobile patrolling will require at least three months of restoration work and huge funds, the minister said.
"That is why the Abkhaz party calls for resuming aerial patrolling of the Kodori gorge and is ready to ensure safety of flights over the territory it controls," Eshba said.
UN officials will discuss the issue with Georgia, which controls the upper part of the Kodori gorge.
Aerial patrolling was stopped after a UN helicopter was shot down in the gorge in October 2001. Three crewmembers and five observers died in the incident. The helicopter is believed to have been shot down by supporters of Chechen warlord Ruslan Gelayev.
Unmounted and automobile patrolling of the Kodori gorge's upper part by UN military observers and the CIS Collective Peacekeeping Forces was suspended in June last year after unidentified attackers kidnapped four UN mission officials.
The upper part of the Kodori gorge is the only Abkhaz region controlled by Georgia after the Georgian-Abkhaz armed conflict of 1992-1993. According to Sukhumi, Georgian Defense Ministry, border guard department and National Guard units are stationed in the gorge in violation of the Moscow agreement of 1994.