The Abkhaz leadership has declined to send a delegation to attend talks in Geneva on 17-18 February on the Abkhaz conflict. The talks involve UN Secretary General Kofi Annan\'s special envoy Heidi Tagliavini, and representatives of the Georgian government and of the five countries (Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany) that belong to the Friends of the UN Secretary-General group tasked with seeking a solution to the conflict. Abkhaz Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba said the unrecognized republic will not send a representative, as the meeting is to discuss a UN-drafted proposal that assumes Abkhazia is an integral part of Georgia. Shamba also said he considers the Coordinating Council established in 1997 under the UN aegis a more appropriate forum for talks on resolving the conflict. On 15 February, Abkhaz Prime Minister Raul Khadjimba flew to Moscow for talks with the Russian leadership. (Caucasus Press)