U.N. Secretary-General Revises Report on Abkhazia under Russian Pressure

Original: U.N. Secretary-General Revises Report on Abkhazia under Russian Pressure

Publication from Eurasia Daily Monitor
By: Vladimir Socor

Russia no longer needs to veto the U.N. Security Council's (UNSC) resolution on the mandate of U.N. observers in Georgia, which expires on June 15. Intimidated by Moscow's veto threats, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and some key UNSC members have bowed to Russian demands and agreed to change key wording in the Secretary-General's report that recommends a new mandate for the observers.
Presented in closed-door consultations on May 27 at the UNSC, the report no longer refers to Abkhazia as part of Georgia. The report eliminates even the UNSC's traditional way of referring to Abkhazia as "Abkhazia, Georgia," a usage that had been designed to imply that this territory was situated within Georgia. The report also reco e that "process" as well, Ba and his Secretariat changed their report's wording to Moscow's liking. The Abkhaz and South Ossetian delegates promptly returned to the Geneva talks.

According to a statement issued by Ba's office in his name, "The claim that the Secretary-General amended his report in response to Russian ‘blackmail' is categorically rejected. That statement itself is very unfortunate...[His change of wording] reflected his view of what all [UNSC] members could live with" (UNSC press release, Civil Georgia, May 28, 29).

While describing Georgian anguish as "very unfortunate," Ba has never been heard using such terms regarding the Russian military invasion. His reference to the need for wording acceptable to all members is a euphemism for it being acceptable to veto-wielding Russia.

This Russian maneuver in the UNSC is hardly new. Ba's predecessors had experienced it and submitted to it also when this mission's mandate was due for prolo that ran along the Inguri River