DATE=10/13/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=GEORGIA / U-N KIDNAPPING (L)
NUMBER=2-254962
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Gunmen have seized a team of U-N military
observers in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia.
The observers were seized near the line separating
Georgian government forces and the breakaway region of
Abkhazia. Moscow Correspondent Eve Conant spoke with
U-N officials in Georgia who say they have made
contact with the hostages.
TEXT: U-N officials say the team of military
observers -- including Swiss, German, and Russian
citizens -- was seized by gunmen just after arriving
by helicopter in the village of Azhara.
The political affairs officer for the U-N observer
mission in Georgia, Vesselin Kostov, says his office
does not know the nationality of the kidnappers. But
he says contact has been made through one of the
hostages.
/// KOSTOV ACT ONE ///
There was communication, not directly, with the
kidnappers. They spoke through one of our
officers, using their walkie-talkie.
/// END ACT ///
The U-N official calls the kidnapping a criminal
affair, but would not say if the kidnappers demanded a
ransom.
/// KOSTOV ACT TWO ///
For the time being, I can only say that no
political demands were advanced by the
kidnappers. This seems to be a criminal affair,
but so far we do not know.
/// END ACT ///
Russian news agencies report the kidnappers are
demanding a ransom of several-hundred-thousand
dollars.
About 100 U-N observers are in the region to monitor
the truce between the Georgian government and
separatists in Abkhazia. The Azhara village where the
hostages were seized is part of the breakaway Abkhazia
region, but is in an area controlled by the Georgian
government.
The U-N Security Council in July approved extending
the term of the military observers by six-months,
despite security concerns. (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/JWH/RAE
13-Oct-1999 08:05 AM EDT (13-Oct-1999 1205 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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