The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution proposed by Russia on Georgia Friday, urging the country to refrain from provocative actions in Abkhazia, and extending the Russian peacekeeping mission in Abkhazia until April 15, 2007.
"The resolution [of the UN Security Council on Georgia] says unambiguously that the reason for the current aggravation of the Georgian-Abkhaz relations is Tbilisi's illegal actions in the Kodori Gorge," Sergei Lavrov told journalists.
Lavrov demanded that illegal arms depots be immediately withdrawn from the gorge.
The Kodori Gorge in northern Georgia, controlled by Abkhazia in its lower section and Tbilisi in the upper part, has been at the center of tensions between the former Soviet republic and the breakaway region since late July, when Georgia conducted what it called a police operation there to disarm a rebellious militia leader.
Russia has insisted on the withdrawal of Georgian troops from Kodori, saying it is crucial for the revival of talks with Abkhazia.
"Patrols conducted in line with a UN Security Council resolution on Georgia revealed illegal arms depots in the Kodori Gorge," he said. The arms "should be immediately withdrawn," he added.
The Russian minister said the resolution also urged Georgia to withdraw troops from the Kodori Gorge and ensure unhindered patrolling of the gorge by Russian peacekeepers and UN observers.
He said illegal arms depots had been discovered during the first such patrol. "These patrols will be carried out regularly," he said.
"It is important that the UN Security Council has confirmed once again the stabilizing role of Russian peacekeepers and UN observers, who closely interact with our coalition peacekeeping forces," Lavrov said.
He said the Security Council called on all parties to conclude an agreement on the non-use of force as soon as possible.
"These are the demands that we consistently proposed to the Georgian side, who consistently ignored them," the Russian minister said.
"Now that the UN Security Council has raised the volume, I think these demands will have to be met. At any rate we will be following this, including through UN control mechanisms," he said.
