The meeting in
The Athens Meeting was the most representative
since the end of the armed conflict in 1993. The high-level delegations were
headed on the Georgian side by Mr. Vazha Lordkipanidze and on the Abkhaz side
by Mr. Sergei Bagapsh. They included representative of government bodies,
members of parliament, businessmen, cultural figures, representatives from
academic circles, members of non-governmental organizations, and journalists.
Representatives of the
Such a meeting provided an opportunity for
discussion of a broad range of questions of mutual interest.
The
In this context such measures include a broad
range of concrete steps in the following major areas: political statement,
ensuring security, return of refugees, economic cooperation, cultural and
humanitarian interaction.
During the course of the meeting both sides put
forward concrete proposals, some of which require more detailed work.
The representatives of the
Agreement was achieved to continue holding such
meetings to develop contacts between the sides and for the adoption of
confidence-building measures and measures for mutual understanding.
During the meeting the Special Representative of
the Secretary-General, representatives of the
The
parties agree on the following:
1. Having once again reaffirmed their commitment
undertaken earlier regarding the right of refugees and displaced persons to
voluntary return to the places of their former permanent residence, they agreed
to speed up conclusion of work on the relevant documents.
2. To provide for full implementation of the
provisions of the protocol of
3. To create a joint mechanism with the
participation of representatives of UNOMIG and the CIS-PKF, to investigate acts
of violation of the Cease-fire and Separation Forces Agreement of 14 May 1994
and for the prevention of a repetition of such acts, and also for the immediate
consideration of complaints of one of the sides regarding actions of the other
side which might represent a threat to security in the conflict zone.
4. To conclude drawing up the order for
interaction of the prosecutors of the sides in investigating criminal cases
regarding subversive acts perpetrated in the security zone.
5. To ensure an operative link between the leaders
of the military structures of the sides, inter alia, at the local level, for
rapid response to situations and actions which may lead to an aggravation of
the situation in the conflict zone.
6. To promote in all possible ways the
implementation of programmes of demining.
7. Having noted the importance of the dialogue
begun on the development of trade and economic relations between them, to
promote the conclusion of direct working contracts in the areas of energy,
trade, agriculture, construction, etc.
8. To conduct active investigation of cases
involving persons missing during the hostilities and the handing over of the
remains of the dead. To request from donor countries expert and material
support in carrying out psychological social rehabilitation of post-trauma
syndrome.
Other proposals put forward by the parties to the
meeting will be further studied.
The implementation of confidence-building measures
will be carried out within the framework of the activity of the Coordinating
Council and bilateral meetings. The Special Representative of the United
Nations Secretary-General shall inform the Coordinating Council regarding the
implementation of concrete confidence-building measures.
The sides and all participants in the meeting
expressed to the government of
V.
Lordkipanidze, S. Bagapsh, L. Bota