Abkhaz Vice President Valerii Arshba told Abkhaz State Television on 8 January that he believes an agreement on peace and the nonresumption of hostilities would constitute a favorable foundation for beginning talks with Georgia\'s new leadership. Arshba has suggested such a peace treaty on several occasions since Shevardnadze resigned on 23 November. Arshba also stressed that firm action by the new Georgian leadership \"to disband the gangs and armed groups that are committing acts of terrorism and sabotage in Abkhazia\" would have \"a positive effect on the peace settlement process and build mutual confidence.\" The prospects for a rapprochement appear minimal, however, in the light of Georgian President-elect Saakashvili\'s rejection of a federal model for Georgia and his insistence that Abkhazia should be an autonomous formation within a unitary Georgian state. (Interfax)