New York - The UN Security Council on Thursday extended its former UN military observer mission in Georgia for just four months rather than a longer period because of the unsettled Russian-Georgian conflict in that country in August. The mission's new mandate will expire in mid-February. Its 153 military observers were caught in the fighting between Russia and Georgian troops and had to be evacuated in August from their posts in the Kodori Valley that separates breakaway Abkhazia and the Tbilisi government.
Abkhazia and South Ossetia seceded from Georgia as a result of the conflict and were recognized by Russia. The two territories are inhabited by a majority of white Russians who wanted independence before the fighting broke out on August 8, pitting Russian troops against the Georgians.
The parties in conflict are to meet in Geneva next week to discuss a settlement. The UN said once an agreement is reached, it would clarify the situation on the ground and provide reasons for a new mandate for the mission.
For the next four months, the mission has no specific name because of the uncertainty of the political outcome of the Geneva talks. It was originally called UN Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG).
