OSCE chairman optimistic about resolution of Georgia-Ajaria row

Arminfo
17 Mar 04

YEREVAN

Armenia hopes that relations between Georgia and Ajaria will improve,
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan told a news conference today
held jointly with the OSCE chairman-in-office and Bulgarian foreign
minister, Solomon Passi.

If the tension between Georgia and Ajaria aggravates, there is no
doubt that it will a have negative impact not only on Georgia but on
the whole region. “We hope that the negotiations which are now being
held will yield positive results, the situation will get better as
soon as possible and, therefore, we will be able to avoid additional
difficulties,” Oskanyan noted.

“For his part, Passi noted that he was “optimistic” and said that the
situation can be resolved peacefully and called on the sides to calm
down and start dialogue. “The escalation of tension can be avoided
through direct dialogue,” Passi said.