RESOLUTION ISSUED BY THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the signing of a partnership and cooperation agreement between the EU and Georgia,

- having regard to the quadripartite agreement on the voluntary return of refugees and displaced persons signed on 4 April 1994 between the Georgian and Abkhaz sides and the declaration of measures for a political settlement of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict signed on the same date,

A. emphasizing that stability and security are a precondition for the continuation of the necessary process of economic and democratic reform in all States of the former Soviet Union, B.  whereas Georgia has been largely devastated by several years of civil war and ethnic conflicts, in particular in Abkhazia, which have forced many thousands of refugees to flee their houses due to ethnic cleansing,

B. noting with deep concern that no significant progress has yet been achieved towards a comprehensive political settlement of the conflict in Abkhazia, including its political status, since the agreement of 14 May 1994 on a cease-fire and a separation of forces in this region,

D.  whereas any lasting solution to the conflict in this region should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders,

E.  deeply concerned about the great number of refugees from Abkhazia living in Georgia, and deeply concerned about the continuing process of ethnic cleansing in the Abkhaz region,

F.  whereas actions such as mine-laying and other threats against the UN observer mission (UNIMOG) and the CIS peace-keeping force referred to in the UN Secretary General’s report contribute to an escalation of tension,

G. deeply concerned about the announcement by the Abkhaz side on the organisation of so

called parliamentary elections to be held on 23 November 1996 in which no refugees and displaced persons will be allowed to participate,

1. Reaffirms its full commitment to the establishment of peace, stability and security in the

States of the former Soviet Union as a precondition to the necessary process of economic and democratic reform;

2.  Stresses that a final peaceful solution to the conflict in Abkhazia should be based on a comprehensive political settlement respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders;

3.  Stresses that elections can only be held in Abkhazia after the determination through negotiations of the political status of Abkhazia within the framework of a comprehensive political settlement and with the guaranteed possibility of full participation for all refugees and displaced persons;

4.  Calls on the Abkhaz side to call off the organisation of the so-called parliamentary elections to be held on 23 November 1996;

5.  Stresses the importance of the right of all displaced persons and refugees to return voluntarily to their places of origin or residence, irrespective of their ethnic, social or political affiliation, under conditions of complete safety and dignity, and is concerned about the continued obstruction of this right for the refugees and displaced persons from Abkhazia;

6.  Condemns all actions which threaten the UNOMIG and the CIS peace-keeping forces, such as mine-laying, and calls on all parties to take the necessary steps to prevent such acts;

7.  Calls on the Council and the Commission to give active support to the UN mission in Abkhazia and to promote, in cooperation with the UN mission, confidence-building measures for the Georgian and Abkhaz citizens of the Republic of Georgia;

8. Calls on the Council and the Commission to strengthen TACIS and ECHO programmes in the region, and especially to strengthen the cooperation between ECHO and TACIS in order to build a bridge from short-term humanitarian relief to long-term sustainable development;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the government and parliament of Georgia, and the Abkhaz side.

14 November 1996.

(www.europa.eu)