PROTOCOL #5 MEETINGS OF CO-CHAIRMEN OF THE JOINT CONTROL COMMISSION (JCC) FOR THE GEORGIAN-OSSETIAN CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

February 28 – March 1, 2002, Tskhinvali

Chaired by: Boris Chochiev        – Minister of Special Tasks, Head of South-Ossetian part of the JCC

Agenda:

1. On the status of the negotiation process about the Georgian-Ossetian conflict settlement.

2. On activities of the joint forces for keeping peace in the zone of the Georgian—Ossetian conflict. On mutual cooperation of law enforcement bodies of the parties in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict.

3. On a working plan of the JCC in the near future.

Approved:

1. On the status of the negotiation process about the Georgian-Ossetian conflict settlement.

(Chochiev, Mayorov, Kusov, Prizemlin, Vikki, Vantomme, Kochiev, Dzitsoitti)

The participants of the meeting discussed the development of the negotiation process with regard to the Georgian-Ossetian conflict settlement. It was noted that after the fourth meeting of the co-chairmen of the JCC in October 2001, the activities of the working organs of the JCC were suspended due to the objective reasons. At the same time, all parties demonstrated the striving for continuing the activities of the JCC and its working organs. The participant of the meeting emphasized the necessity of the final elaboration of the draft Georgian-Russian inter-state programs on mutual cooperation in rehabilitation of economy in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict and return of refugees.

The South Ossetian party expressed its concerns with regard to the condition of the South Ossetian population in Lagodekhi and Akhmeta regions of Georgia in connection with the violation of the rights of Ossetian people compactly residing in the villages of Kakheti region, as well  as fear in connection with the aggravation of the situation in the Pankisi gorge.. The South Ossetian party distributed among other participants of the meeting its official statement about the above-noted problem.

2. On activities of the joint forces for keeping peace in the zone of the Georgian - - Ossetian conflict. On mutual cooperation of law enforcement bodies of the parties in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict.

(Prizemlin, Mayorov, Machavariani, Vikki, Vantomme, Kublashvili)

The participant of the meeting listened to the information of V. Prizemlin, Major General, the Commander of the JPKF, about the activities of the JPKF, as well as his proposals about starting practical activities of the Special Coordinating Center (the SCC) for the mutual cooperation of law enforcement organs in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict, It was noted that within the period after the fourth meeting of the co-chairmen of the JCC in October 2001, the JPKF continued to fulfill the set tasks with regard to keeping peace in the zone of conflict and actively cooperate with the law enforcement bodies of the parties.

The participants of the meeting emphasized the important role of the JPKF in the development of the process of the conflict settlement. The process of the project implementation with regard to voluntary registration of weapons by the population in the zone of conflict was specifically noted as the factor, which can reduce destabilization of the situation.

The parties agreed with the proposal of the Delegation of EC in Georgia about carrying out the ceremony of transferring the equipment to the JCC on March 8, 2002.

3. On a working plan of the JCC in the near future.

(Mayorov, Chochiev, Machavariani, Kusov, Kochiev, Gambashidze, Korchmar)

The Co-chairmen reviewed the proposal of the parties about the working plan of the JCC and its working organs in the near future. The co-chairmen resolved:

1) Approve the proposal of the Russian party about carrying out the session of the workgroup of the JCC in Moscow at the end of March, 2002 with regard to the economic issues (the day before the session Georgian-Russian Commission on the issues of economic cooperation).

2) Carry out ad hoc committee meeting about the issue of refugees at the beginning of April, 2002, in Tbilisi.

3) Carry out a session of the workgroup of the JCC about the issues concerning the activities of the JPKF and mutual cooperation of law enforcement bodies of the parties in Tskhinvali at the end of April 2002.

4) Carry out the next meeting of co-chairmen of the JCC in Tskhinvali at the end of April 2002.

5) Deem it necessary to implement the decision about establishing the JCC Secretariats of the South-Ossetian and Georgian parts and allocate special premises and staff for the above-purposes.

B. Chochiev, Chairman, Head of South-Ossetian Part of the JCC

(Archive of the Staff of the State Minister of Georgia for Conflict Resolution Issues/in Russian)