UN wants Russia's troops, weapons out of ceasefire zone (Roundup)

May 19, 2009, 17:30 GMT

New York - The UN on Tuesday called for strict adherence to an agreement allowing only 600 non-Russian law enforcement and security personnel with authorized firearms in a ceasefire zone patrolled by UN observers in Georgia.

A UN progress report said Russia has maintained heavy military equipment and troops in the zone despite the ceasefire agreement that ended its conflict with Georgia last year.

'Heavy military equipment and military personnel have remained in the UN mission's area of responsibility despite the call in resolution 1866 that provisions set out in the Moscow agreement be respected,' the report said.

The observations of Russian troops and equipment were recorded from February to May.

The report was issued to coincide with meetings in Geneva of parties involved in the brief war in August last year that pitted Russian troops against the Georgians.

Moscow announced at the same time that it plans to reduce its military presence in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the two Georgian provinces that seceded and have been recognized by Moscow since August.

Moscow had planned to post up to 3,800 troops in each of the provinces. While it announced the troop reduction, Moscow did not specify numbers.

The UN report called for 'strict adherence to the ceasefire on land, at sea and in the air, and to the principle of the non-use of force.'

It said no armed forces or military equipment are allowed in the security zones under UN supervision except up to 600 non-Russian law enforcement and security personnel carrying authorized firearms and equipped with up to 10 unarmed armoured personnel carriers. The security zones extend for 12 miles on each side of the ceasefire line.

In the restricted zones, which extend 12 miles beyond the security zones, no heavy military equipment, tanks, missiles systems, artillery and mortars are allowed. The report said also that no military or reconnaissance aircraft are allowed in the two zones.

The report said the security situation has remained 'fragile.'

'The local population, in particular in the Gali district, also remains in a precarious situation, with limitations on its freedom of movement across the ceasefire line,' the report said.

'The ceasefire region - the key foundation for the separation of forces and stabilization has continued to erode,' the report said.