§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Government policy towards Abkhazia. [89612]
§ Ms QuinThe British Government are active in seeking a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict in the region of Abkhazia, Georgia. We are members of the group known as the Friends of the UN Secretary-General, which supports the parties in their efforts to find a negotiated settlement to the conflict. Most recently, the British Ambassador in Tbilisi joined representatives of the other Friends of the Secretary-General and the parties in UN-sponsored talks in Istanbul from 7 to 9 June. The UK currently has seven military observers in a UN mission (UNOMIG) monitoring the ceasefire in co-operation with the CIS Peacekeeping Force. The British Government fully support a solution to the conflict based on the territorial integrity of Georgia, and maximum autonomy for the region of Abkhazia.