Annex 5 To Protocol #5 of the JCC Session dated July 19-20, 1995 Tskhinvali

STATEMENT Of Georgian and Russian Parties on Further Development of the Process of Peaceful Settlement of the Conflict

Representatives of the Georgian and South Ossetian parties, with the intermediation of Russia and with the participation of representatives from North Ossetia and the OSCE, against the background of the most difficult political and economic realities,

Considering that it is necessary with the sense of dignity and mutual tolerance and efforts to start creating future for Georgian and Ossetian peoples, acting with compromise and reconciliation,

Declare:

that the parties are ready to start cooperating in preparation of the law-based status for South Ossetia and the state structure of Georgia, and for this purposes, start official negotiations no later than August 5, 1995.

The parties, during the negotiations, will proceed from the principles of the international practice, territorial integrity of the state in the sphere of encouraging and protecting the rights and fundamental freedoms of national minorities.

On behalf of the Russian side                            

On behalf of the Georgian side

On behalf of the South Ossetian Side                 

On behalf of the North Ossetian side

In the presence of: the OSCE Mission

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