#GEORGIA SAYS RUSSIA'S ROLE IS CENTRAL IN SETTLING ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA CONFLICTS# MOSCOW, May 25 (RIA Novosti) - Georgia gives Russia the central role in settling the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. They are the two former autonomies of Georgia which, on the crest of the sovereignty drive in the early 90s, declared independence from Georgia, Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania told the RIA Novosti press conference.
"We see Russia as having the central role in the peaceful settlement in South Ossetia and Abkhazia", he said.
Zhvania said that the Abkhaz settlement will be gradual. In his opinion, "the settlement of the Gali question has ripened". He recalled that Georgian refugees are beginning to return to Abkhazia's Gali district on the border with Georgia and now it should have an administration and law-enforcement agencies in order to ensure security for them, let their children study in the Georgian language and settle other matters.
Simultaneously, the Georgian premier regretted to say that no real positive moves have been made. "Overall, the Abkhazia conflict may explode if no positive decision is made." Zhvania said.
The Gali district is "kind of a touchstone" in settling Abkhazia, he noted.
"We must find a solution for this problem, which is possible only if the sides show goodwill", Zhvania said. The Georgian prime minister said that Gali situation and the return of refugees was in focus during his talks with the foreign minister, secretary of the Security Council and prime minister of Russia.
To Zhvania, the leadership of Georgia is going to grant Abkhazia broad status as a political autonomy.
He said that Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili is expected, in the next few days, to make a statement on the Abkhazia settlement.
"It will be an important statement concerning peaceful settlement, intending the granting of a broad political-autonomy status to Abkhazia", Zhvania said. He rejected the analogies drawn in the mass media between the solution of the Adzharia problem and approaches to the Abkhazia settlement. "It is not true that after Adzharia Georgians will rush at Abkhazia", Zhvania noted. "The conflict should be settled within the framework of the territorial integrity of Georgia".
"In all these questions, Russia under the aegis of the United Nations will play the central, pivotal role. Russia can show that its policy spells greater stability for the entire region", the Georgian prime minister emphasised.
He called "irresponsible declarations" the calls for joining South Ossetia to Russia. To Zhvania, Tbilisi has arranged dialogue with representatives of the South Ossetian political forces. "There is no confrontation between Georgians and Ossetians in South Ossetia. The situation there is quiet", Zhvania stressed.
"We cherish the responsible position of the leaderships of Russia and North Ossetia", he added. The Georgian prime minister voiced confidence that the South Ossetian conflict can be finally settled through dialogue. "We are optimistic", Zhavia said.
He also said that Tbilisi might ban unfolding third-countries' military bases in its territory.
"Georgia is considering the possibility. If there is a constructive withdrawal of the Russian military bases (one in Akhalkalaki on the border with Armenia and Turkey, the other in Batumi), Georgia is ready to state non-deployment of third-countries' military bases", the Georgian prime minister said.
