Matthew Bryza: there is no military way to settle Georgian-Abkhazian conflict

In the opinion of Matthew Bryza, assistant of the US undersecretary of state, no military alternative of settling the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict can ever exist, since it will only aggravate the fundamental disagreements that make the core of the conflict.

Mr Bryza made this statement today in Sukhumi while answering journalists' questions. As he said, "the level of political and military tension is very high." "The conflict exists right because there were military actions in the past," said the official of the state department.

According to Matthew Bryza, "the progress is only through negotiations to be held in the atmosphere of mutual respect". "It is very important," he added, "for the people living here, in Abkhazia, to feel safe - physically, economic and culturally."

In response to the question asked by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent about his attitude to Russia's exit from economic sanctions mode and Vladimir Putin's instructions to render subject help to Abkhazia, Mr Bryza said: "Sanctions have nothing to do with the United States of America. It was a CIS' decision passed when Russia was chairing the Commonwealth". "We've no concern as to lifting economic sanctions. We want everyone in Abkhazia to live embracive and prospering life. But we are worried of the military component in lifting the sanctions," Matthew Bryza explained. "We feel, although we can be mistaken, that there are people in Moscow eager to increase the level of military tension."

The "Caucasian Knot" has already informed that today a US delegation arrived to Abkhazia; it consists of Matthew Bryza, assistant of the US undersecretary of state, and John Thefft, US Ambassador to Georgia. They had a meeting with President of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh and Foreign Minister Sergey Shamba. The parties discussed chances to revive the Georgian-Abkhazian negotiating process.