Richard Miles traveled on 21 August to Sukhum where he met with Abkhaz Prime Minister Anri Djergenia and Vice President Valerii Arshba, who is acting president for the duration of Vladislav Ardzinba's vacation. Miles expressed concern at the lack of progress toward a peaceful solution of the Abkhaz conflict and affirmed that the UN-drafted "Basic Principles for the Distribution of Competences between Tbilisi and Sukhum" constitutes an ideal basis for resuming talks on such a settlement. Djergenia again said he sees "no sense" in discussion that document, under which Abkhazia would remain a part of Georgia. He added that "no one can force us to reject the idea of independence." (Caucasus Press)