The United States has called on Russia “to reconsider” its decision to increase the level of its peacekeeping troops in breakaway Abkhazia. “Some of these Russian actions in terms of troop buildups along the border certainly risk destabilizing the region, and we would ask Russia to reconsider some of the steps that they have taken recently,” Sean McCormack, a spokesman of the U.S. Department of State, said at a press briefing on April 30. “We have asked them to reconsider some of the statements that they have made recently.” “On the Georgian side, we haven’t seen any similar buildups,” he added. “They’ve had normal troop rotations through the Kodori Valley. And, frankly, the Georgian Government has taken responsible steps in terms of reaching out to citizens of those regions, both South Ossetia and as well as to Abkhazia.” He also reiterated the U.S.'s “unshakeable commitment” towards Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Dana Perino, a White House spokesperson, said on April 30 that the United States was “concerned about the situation.” “We respect Georgia's territorial integrity, and we would urge everyone to maintain a level of dialogue, rather than take any further action,” she said. The August 22, 1994 decision of CIS heads of state reads that the number of peacekeepers in the Abkhaz conflict zone should be 2,500-3,000. |
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