SHEVARDNADZE MAKES STATESMANLIKE OFFER ON ANNIVERSARY OF DEFEAT IN ABKHAZIA.

On September 27 Georgia observed a day of remembrance of the defeat of its forces in Abkhazia and the forced exodus of the Georgian population from the secessionist region in 1993. Addressing the country on radio the following day, President Eduard Shevardnadze described the 1992-93 war as “senseless” and “bound to create only losers.” He called for “restoration of mutual trust between the Georgian and Abkhaz peoples”–the banning of force and negotiations to settle the conflict. Shevardnadze offered Abkhazia “the highest status of political autonomy” within a Georgian Federation to be created. He further offered to meet with Abkhaz leader Vladislav Ardzinba in Abkhazia’s capital Sukhumi in order to jump-start political negotiations (Radio Tbilisi, September 28).

DEADLY ATTACKS ON RUSSIAN SOLDIERS.