APPEAL OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Today, 27 July 1993, the Agreement of Ceasefire and the Control Mechanisms for its Implementation has been signed in Sochi.

Georgian and Abkhaz leaders showed the wisdom and political will and have met the peace-building efforts of the Russian Federation, supported by the UN and the whole of international community.  The way to putting an end to the fratricidal war is open.

It is now important to observe the agreements reached by the parties, to prevent from provocations and give to the process the irreversible character.

Achievement of these goals and of the sooner elaboration of the agreement on comprehensive political settlement of the situation in Abkhazia will be strongly supported by Russia.

Russian Federation is firm in its decision to be a guarantor for Georgia’s territorial integrity, for Abkhazia’s and South Ossetia’s political and legal status, and for the peaceful resolution of interethnic problem.  Against this background there is an avenue to the Russian-Georgian good-neighborly relations, as an important factor to the peace and stability in the Caucasus.

B. Yeltsin

27 July 1993

(Journal “Diplomaticheski vestnik” /Diplomatic Messenger/, # 15-16, 1993, p. 5)