RESOLUTION
1716 (13 OCTOBER 2006) adopted
by the Un Security council
The Security Council,
Recalling all its relevant resolutions, in
particular resolution 1666 of 31 March 2006 (S/RES/1666),
Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General
on the activities of the United Nations Observer Mission in
Supporting the sustained efforts of the
Secretary-General and of his Special Representative with the assistance of the
Regretting the continued lack of progress on
key issues of a comprehensive settlement of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict,
Acknowledging with concern the observation of the
Secretary-General that a new and tense situation has emerged between the
Georgian and the Abkhaz sides, in particular as a result of the Georgian
special operation in the upper Kodori Valley,
1. Reaffirms
the commitment of all Member States to the sovereignty, independence and
territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders,
and supports all efforts by the
United Nations and the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General which are
guided by their determination to promote a settlement of the Georgian-Abkhaz
conflict only by peaceful means and
within the framework of the Security
Council resolutions;
2. Recalls,
with a view to achieving a lasting and comprehensive settlement, its support
for the principles contained in the “Paper on Basic Principles for the Distribution
of Competencies between Tbilisi and Sukhumi” and welcomes additional ideas that
the sides would be willing to offer with a view to conducting creatively and
constructively a political dialogue under the aegis of the United
Nations;
3. Having
in mind the relevant Security Council resolutions containing an appeal
to both sides to refrain from any action that might impede the peace process, expresses its concern with regard to
the actions of the Georgian side in the Kodori Valley in July 2006, and to all
violations of the Moscow agreement on ceasefire and separation of forces of 14
May 1994, and other Georgian-Abkhaz agreements concerning the Kodori Valley;
4. Urges
the Georgian side to ensure that the situation in the upper
5. Notes
with satisfaction the resumption of joint patrols in the upper Kodori
Valley by UNOMIG and the CIS peacekeeping force and reaffirms that such joint patrols
should be conducted on a regular basis;
6. Urges
both parties to comply fully with previous agreements and understandings
regarding ceasefire, non-use of violence and confidence-building measures, and stresses the need to strictly observe
the Moscow Agreement on Ceasefire and the Separation of Forces in the air, on
the sea and on land, including in the Kodori Valley;
7. Acknowledges
the important role of the CIS peacekeeping force and of UNOMIG in the
Georgian-Abkhaz conflict zone, stresses
the importance of close and effective cooperation between UNOMIG and the
CIS peacekeeping force as they currently play a stabilizing role in the
conflict zone, looks to all
sides to continue to extend the necessary cooperation to them and recalls that a lasting and comprehensive
settlement of the conflict will require appropriate security guarantees;
8. Once
again urges the Georgian side to address seriously legitimate Abkhaz
security concerns, to avoid steps which could be seen as threatening and to refrain
from militant rhetoric and provocative actions, especially in upper Kodori Valley;
9. Urges
the Abkhaz leadership to address seriously the need for a dignified return
of IDPs and refugees, including their security and human rights concerns, publicly
reassure the local population, particularly in the Gali district, that their residency
rights and identity will be respected, and move without delay on implementing
past commitments relating to United Nations police advisers, a United Nations
human rights sub-office and the language of instruction;
10. Urges
both parties to finalize without delay the package of documents on the
non-use of violence and on the return of refugees and internally displaced persons
for the Gali district and to undertake necessary steps to secure the protection
and dignity of the civilian population including the returnees;
11. Commends
the presentation by both sides of ideas as a basis for dialogue and calls on the two sides to resume this
dialogue by using all existing mechanisms as described in the relevant Security
Council resolutions in order to come to a peaceful settlement;
12. Calls
on both parties to follow up on their expressed readiness for a meeting
of their highest authorities without preconditions and to maintain open channels
of communication to build confidence, and encourages further contacts between representatives of civil
society;
13. Calls
on the Secretary-General to explore with the sides ways and means to
build confidence, in particular by improving welfare and security of the inhabitants
of Gali and Zugdidi districts;
14. Supports
all efforts by the Georgian and Abkhaz sides to engage constructively in
economic cooperation as envisaged in the Geneva meetings and complemented by
the working groups established in Sotchi in March 2003, including, security
conditions permitting, the rehabilitation of infrastructure, and welcomes the
intention expressed by Germany to host a meeting on economic
cooperation and confidence-building measures,
pending progress in the conflict resolution process;
15. Underlines
that it is the primary responsibility of both sides to provide appropriate
security and to ensure the freedom of movement of UNOMIG, the CIS peacekeeping
force and other international personnel and calls on both sides to fulfil their obligations in this regard;
16. Welcomes
the efforts being undertaken by UNOMIG to implement the Secretary-General’s
zero tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and to ensure full
compliance of its personnel with the United Nations code of conduct, requests the Secretary-General to
continue to take all necessary action in this regard and to keep the Security
Council informed, and urges troop-contributing
countries to take appropriate preventive action including the conduct of
predeployment awareness training, and to take disciplinary action and other
action to ensure full accountability in cases of such conduct involving their
personnel;
17. Decides
to extend the mandate of UNOMIG for a new period terminating on 15 April
2007;
18. Requests
the Secretary-General to include detailed information on developments in
the
19. Strongly
supports the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General
and calls on the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General to continue giving
him their steadfast and unified support;
20. Decides
to remain actively seized of the matter.
13 october 2006.
(www. un. org/docs)