The Security Council failed yesterday to extend the presence of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia after Russia vetoed a technical roll-over for the nearly 16-year-old operation.

China, Libya, Uganda and Viet Nam abstained on the vote on the text, which would have extended the Mission – entrusted with overseeing the ceasefire accord between the Government and Abkhaz separatists in the country’s north-western region – for two more weeks, until 30 June. Its mandate expires at midnight Monday.

Explaining Russia’s negative vote, Ambassador Vitaly Churkin noted that UNOMIG’s mandate had already been rolled over twice for four-month periods, in October 2008 and more recently in February 2009.

“There’s no sense in extending it since it’s built on old realities,” said Mr. Churkin, adding that the current reality calls for a new security regime on the ground.

“Developing a new UN mission mandate would have allowed us to quickly put in place practical cooperation of all interested parties to strengthen security and to restore trust… However, our Western partners did not accept this approach.”

The draft resolution put forward in the Council was “clearly unacceptable,” he stated.

In his recent report to the Council, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated that the Mission has contributed to the overall security of the local population, while cautioning that an agreement on a revised security regime is needed for lasting stability.

UNOMIG’s area of responsibility in Abkhazia consists of a security zone, where no military presence is permitted; a restricted weapons zone, where no heavy weapons can be introduced; and the Kodori Valley.

It has no jurisdiction in nearby South Ossetia, the scene of fighting last August which pitted Georgia against separatists and their Russian allies.