STATEMENT OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION ON THE DEVELOPMENTS IN ABKHAZIA

The situation in Abkhazia is a matter of serious concern in the Russian Federation. The detachment of the armed formations of the State Council of the Republic of Georgia in Abkhazia has driven the situation to the military conflict, which results in casualties.

The achievements of the Moscow Summit of 3 September 1992 laid the ground to initiating the peaceful and civilized settlement of the conflict.

However, still ceasefire and other achievements of Moscow meeting have not been realized. The peaceful citizens of Abkhazia still are subjected to the violent acts, including ten thousands of people with Russian origin. The number of refugees has considerably increased at the South of the Russian Federation.

Participation of paramilitary voluntary groups formed by national and public movements of certain republics of the North Caucasus region is especially alarming, as it spreads the violent actions over the territory of the Russian federation.

The Supreme Council of the Russian Federation:

Condemns the acts of Georgian authorities, which tried to solve the hardest problems of inter-ethnic relations through the forcible measures; and request from them to put an end to the armed operations, to with draw the military formations from the territory of Abkhazia and to observe the international instruments on human rights;

Declares on necessity of further development of the Moscow agreements and finds important to hold the meeting of , the leaders of Russia, Georgia, Abkhazia, also of the republics, regions and oblasts of the North Caucasus with the aim to solve the major issue – establish ceasefire without any preconditions;

Considers that the package of agreements shall take intro account the agreed withdrawal of the troops of the Georgian State council from the territory of Abkhazia, accompanied with disarmament, disbanding and distancing from Abkhazia the voluntary armed formations and groups that came from the North Caucasus. It also finds necessary to deploy peacekeeping forces under the auspices of the CIS for securing the safety of the population and the stable functioning of transport means and the major industries. Only such approach may guarantee the renewal of the work of the legitimate authorities in Sukhumi, return of refugees and start establishing the necessary conditions for normal life in Abkhazia.

The Supreme Council of the Russian Federation declares about its readiness to be a mediator in this process.

Supreme Council of the Russian Federation.

25 September 1992.

(Journal “Diplomatic Messenger”, 1992, # 19-29, p. 26)