United Nations Radio

The UN Security Council on Tuesday has extended the mandate of the UN Observer Mission in Georgia for six months.

The draft resolution was presented by Russia with the support of the so-called Group of Friends, which includes Germany, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Russia's Ambassador Vitaly Churkin (photo) welcomed the unanimous adoption of the resolution, which urges the parties to the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict to seriously address each other's legitimate security concerns. It also calls on them to refrain from violence or provocation, and to keep the security zone free of any military activities. Ambassador Churkin accuses the Georgian side of the military build up in the conflict zone:

"There is continued and increased military presence of Georgia in the Upper Kodori Valley. Despite the recommendations of the Secretary-General, there is continued presence of the so-called Youth Patriotic Camp in the area of the conflict. There is a new phenomenon of overflights of Georgian jets of the security zone. As you know, recently a Georgian drone was shot down in the airspace of the security zone."

Georgia, however, is unhappy with the performance of the CIS peacekeepers in the conflict zone and has been calling for an international presence. UN military observers conduct patrols in the area.

Reporting for UN Radio, I'm Elena Vapnitchnaia.

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