The Georgian parliament's vote to replace Russian peacekeepers in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone with an international force is a sign of Tbilisi's determination to militarily resolve the conflicts in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Interfax cited Sergei Bagapsh, president of the breakaway republic of Abkhazia, on 15 February as saying. "The decision of the Georgian parliament is aggravating the situation in the region... This is another Georgian policy flop. Once again we see that Georgia is not speaking of a peaceful settlement of the conflict in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, but is preparing for a military solution," he said. "The decision of the Georgian parliament is prompting us to further strengthen our armed forces. It is a thoughtless decision that South Ossetia will never support," Bagapsh said. (www.interfax.ru, February 15)