STATEMENT OF THE STATE COMMISSION OF ABKHAZIA AND GEORGIA on Search for the persons Missing without Trace

nce more reiterating their readiness for close cooperation aimed at expediting the process of search for the persons missing without trace, representatives of state commissions from Abkhazia and Georgia have held a working meeting within the framework of the Coordination Council, in which representatives of the International Committee of Red Cross also participated.

The Commission reached an agreement to start from 20 July, 2000 real search activities in both Georgian and Abkhazian burial sites. At the same time, within the framework of the process of search for the persons missing without trace, the leaders of the commissions agreed to engage representatives of the civil society to the search process. They expressed their intentions to organize a meeting between mothers of Abkhazia and Georgia, in order to continue discussions on the issue of reburial from Babushera.

The Parties gave high estimation to the activities of ICRC, aimed at rendering maximum possible technical assistance to the commissions. Once again, representatives of the Parties asked the ICRC to continue rendering practical support to the Parties. We welcome the readiness of ICRC to provide the Parties with specialist-experts on identification from the Boston center "Doctors for Human Rights".

At the same time, representatives of the Commissions once again appeal to the Coordination Council to render rapid assistance in terms of provision of technical means, which would make it possible to expedite the process of solution of this humanitarian problem.

On behalf of Abkhaz side Otar Kakalia

On behalf of Georgian side Vladimir Doborjginidze

11 July 2000, City of Sukhum

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