Russia vetoes extension of UN mission in Georgia

Russia vetoed an extension of the mandate of the UN mission in Georgia, effectively ending its activities, citing opposition to Georgian sovereignty over the rebel enclave of Abkhazia.

Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin cast his veto during a Security Council vote on a draft sponsored by Western countries which had called for a two-week extension of the mandate and indirectly reaffirmed the council's commitment to Georgia's territorial integrity.

Ten of the council's 15 members voted in favor while four China, Libya, Uganda and Vietnam abstained. With the Russian veto, the UN mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) ends at midnight (0930 IST today) with the expiration of its mandate, which is concerned only with monitoring the conflict between Georgia and the breakaway enclave of Abkhazia.

The force, which currently fields 131 military observers and 20 policemen, was created in 1993 to oversee a ceasefire accord between the Georgian government and Abkhaz separatist authorities.

The draft sponsored by Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, Turkey, Britain and the United States was meant to extend the status quo for two weeks to allow more time for negotiations with Russia over the fate of the mission and a new security regime for Abkhazia.