Georgia offers federalism and peace to Abkhazia

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has held a meeting on the resolution of the situation in Abkhazia. In an earlier development, Saakashvili had proposed to the government a package of new initiatives, reports the Moscow-based radio station Ekho Moskvy. Tbilisi offers Sukhumi "an unlimited autonomy within one Georgian state, a full federalism, the guarantees of security and a peaceful development"."

The Georgian leadership offers a wide representation of the Abkhazian autonomy in the central power structures in a form of vice president, the right of veto on any changes in the Constitution and the laws of Georgia, protection of the language and culture, and the creation of a free economic zone.

Abkhazia is sceptical about Saakashvili's proposals and says that the dialogue could be continued only after Georgia pulls its troops out of the Kadorskaya valley.