The Provisional Mechanism for the
Prevention and Settlement of Disputes -
TECHNICAL ARRANGEMENTS between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of
This arrangement establishes a cooperative and
consultative mechanism for the prevention and resolution of disputes.
The mechanism should provide assurances of
stability through information and consultation based on the following
principles:
Stabilisation:
- Withdrawal of Russian forces;
- Absence of Georgian armed forces from zones
adjacent to Abkhazia and
- Regulation of the presence (if any) of
special Georgian police units and prevention of irregular armed groups.
Normalisation:
- Return of regular Georgian police to the
area;
- Return of the rule of law;
- Return of civilian administration;
- Return of IDPs
- Engagement of international aid agencies.
Exchange
of Information and Dispute Settlement:
The mechanism will consist of a system of
consultations at three levels:
1. At the operational
level, mechanisms for regular consultations (at least on a weekly basis). This
mechanism will include representatives of the so called de facto authorities;
2. At EUMM Head of Mission, Georgian Ministry
of Interior level and equivalent Russian counterpart, a mechanism for dealing with
transparency, major incidents and disputes.
3. A political level for dispute settlement,
possibly at the level of MFA of Georgia,
Furthermore, in implementing point 1 above, at
the operational level, the establishment is foreseen of two local commissions
including the Russian side:
1. Zugdidi/Gali
2. Tskhinvali/Gori
Meetings of these two commissions would be held
on at least a weekly basis and in response to needs arising from the situation
on the ground.
Mechanisms
at the Operational level:
Both sides agree that the prevention and
resolution of conflicts will depend on high level of transparency, to be
provided by all sides, as a condition for confidence building measures. It is
understood that EUMM will seek transparency on both sides. In this context, the
following is agreed.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MoIA) will
inform the EUMM of any forces that it plans to deploy in the zones adjacent to
Abkhazia and South Ossetia (hereafter referred to as “the areas”), during and
following the withdrawal of Russian forces and also on police forces that are
already in the areas under Georgian control.
More specifically, MoIA will provide a detailed
breakdown of the number of forces for the different locations, including the
type of weaponry these police forces have available. This information will cover regular police
forces as well as special police forces.
The MoIA will also provide information to EUMM
about any armed irregulars in the areas.
It is understood that the armed forces of
Transparency and predictability will be
provided by the MoIA, including through a clear policy of visibility with respect
to the uniforms, vehicles and other equipment used by the various police
forces. Regular police, including Criminal Investigation Department as well as
Special police, will have clearly distinguishable uniforms in order to avoid
misunderstandings. Urgent efforts must be made to improve the identification of
uniforms and vehicles when the latter resemble army units’, by providing
additional and temporary identification, such as highly visible arm bands or
badges and vehicle stripes or stickers. Identification marks will be
systematically applied and colors will be mutually agreed.
The MoIA commits not to deploy heavy armaments in
the areas, not any mortars. The MoIA also commits to strictly control and
restrict any deployment of sniper rifles. Sniper rifles will be kept in police
offices and may be deployed in the field only in reaction to a direct attack.
The MoIA recognizes the EUMM’s right to perform
unannounced inspections on these matters and will inform the police forces of
this disposition.
The MoIA will inform EUMM in advance of any
deployment of armed vehicles (in particular Cobras) in the direction of and
into the areas.
The MoIA will inform EUMM of any arrangements
made with the Russian side on security matters, including transit and movement
of forces and equipment.
Incident
Reporting
EUMM and MoIA agree to set up an incident reporting mechanism. In
particular, the MoIA will instruct its police forces to report any incident
threatening or involving the use of arms to a central point of contact in the
MoIA (POC). This POC will report the incident immediately to
EUMM Liaison Officer in the
MoIA. EUMM Liaison Officer
will similarly report on incidents to MoIA POC.
Final
Article
Both sides endeavor to negotiate with the
Russian side mechanisms for transparency (exchange of information) and incident
reporting.
Signed on October
10, 2008 by:
Head of EU Monitoring Mission Ambassador Hansjorg Haber
Minister of Interior of the Government of
Georgia Ivane Merabishvili
(Archive of the EUMM
in