STATUTE (REGULATIONS) OF THE
COORDINATING COUNCIL
1. General
provisions
The Coordinating
Council (hereinafter referred to as “the Council”) is established in accordance
with the final statement on the results of the meeting held in
The Council is
established in order to implement the provisions of the final statement.
2. Composition of
the council and organization of its work
The Council shall
meet under the chairmanship of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary
General for Georgia or his authorized representative.
The Council shall
consist of three representatives each from the Georgian and Abkhaz sides. In
the work of the Council also participate the
representatives of the United Nations, the
The meetings of the
Council shall be convened by the Special Representative of the
Secretary-General and shall be held as necessary but at least once in every two
months, alternately in
Each side shall
have the right to call for an extraordinary meeting of the Council, which shall
be convened by the Special Representative of the Secretary General within three
days or, promptly in case of urgent situation.
A preliminary
agenda for meetings shall be drafted by the Special Representative of the
Secretary General in accordance with the provisions of the final statement and
previous decisions of the Council and shall be delivered to the participants no
later than 10 days prior to the convening of the meeting.
Each side shall
have the right to put forward proposals on amendments or additions to the
agenda, which shall be submitted to the Special Representative of the Secretary
General no later than five days prior to the meeting. The Special
Representative of the Secretary-General shall hold consultations on such
matters before the convening of the meeting.
The other
participants in the Council may also put forward proposals concerning the
agenda, which shall be considered by the Special Representative of the
Secretary-General and agreed by the Parties.
Decisions of the
Council shall be taken on the basis of consensus between the Parties. In
adopting decisions concerning the role and responsibility of the United Nations
and the
In case of failure
to reach consensus when adopting decisions, the sides may state their position
in the protocol of the meeting.
The working
language of the meetings is Russian.
The office of the
Special Representative of the Secretary General serves as the secretariat of
the Council.
3. Working groups
Working groups are
the executive bodies of the Coordination Council. Working groups shall consist
of two representatives each from the Georgian and Abkhaz sides. The meetings of
the working groups shall be chaired by the Special Representative of the
Secretary General or his authorized representative, with the participation of
representatives of the Russian Federation, as facilitator, the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Group of Friends of the Secretary
General pursuant to the terms set out in paragraph 3 of the final statement.
Meetings of the working groups shall be convened by the Special Representative
of the Secretary General. At the request of the sides, the experts may attend
the meetings.
The working groups
shall carry out activities in the following fields:
Working Group I –
issues related to the firm non-resumption of hostilities and to security
problems;
Working Group II –
refugees and internally displaced persons;
Working Group III –
economic and social problems.
4. Group of experts
Certain groups of
experts may be established by the Council, the working groups or the Special
Representative of the Secretary-General in order to examine specific aspects of
issues relating to a comprehensive settlement of the conflict, if such
questions arise.
5. Competencies of
the Council
a) Issues related
to the firm non-resumption of hostilities and to security problems. Consideration of breach of the Agreement on a Cease-fire and
Separation of Forces of 14 May 1994 and the relevant provisions
of Security Council resolution 937 (1994) of 21 July 1994, and the
adoption of decisions to prevent such breach.
Consideration
of questions relating to the effective implementation of the commitments made
by the sides.
Introduction of
effective measures to put an end to any activities conducted by illegal armed
formations, terrorist or subversive groups or individuals, including
individuals who penetrate into the conflict zone, as well as any activities
that may destabilize the peace process or lead to a resumption of hostilities.
Assistance
in mine clearance.
Working Group I
shall investigate violation of the cease-fire regime, and terrorist or subversive
activities, and shall draft proposals and recommendations on matters within its
competence. Working Group I shall meet as necessary but at least once a week.
b) Refugees and
internally displaced persons
In accordance with
the concluding statement of the
Working Group II
shall deal with the drafting of appropriate recommendations.
c) Economic and social
problems
Consideration
of questions of mutual interest to the sides (energy, transport,
communications, environment).
Consideration
of proposals to remove impediments to the normal economic and social
development.
Working Group III
shall draft proposals and recommendations on the establishment of effective
cooperation between the sides in agreed fields.
18 December 1997
(Abkhaz
Issue in Official Documents, Legislative and Executive organs of Georgia,
International Organizations, 1989-1999, part II, 1995-1999; authors: Vakhtang Kholbaia, Teimuraz Chakhrakia, Rafiel Gelantia, David Latsuzbaia, Tb., 2000, p. 183-185/in Georgan)