(Annex ¹ 1).  Draft. (As to 10.09.1999)

PROVISIONS of the Interim Document on the Comprehensive Settlement of Georgian-Ossetian Conflict, Agreed up at the Expert Group Meeting of the Parties

The Georgian and South Ossetian sides through the mediation of the Russian Federation and with participation of representatives of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE),

guided by the will to develop the positive results reached with the signing in Moscow of the Memorandum on the Security and Confidence Building measures between the Parties to Georgian-Ossetian Conflict on 16 May 1996 and fixed in the Declarations on the results of the meetings between Eduard Shevardnadze and Ludvig Chibirov in Vladikavkaz on 27 August 1996, in Java on 14 November, 1997, Borjomi on 20 June 1998, as well as in the Protocol of the Meeting of Specially Authorized delegations of the Georgian and South Ossetian parties on a Full Scale Resolution of Georgian-Ossetian Conflict” (March 1997, Moscow)

have agreed:

1. The Georgian and South Ossetian Sides confirm that the negotiations on a full scale resolution of Georgian -Ossetian conflict shall culminate in joint adopting of a Treaty, fully resolving divergences between the parties to the conflict and complying with other universally recognized norms of international law.

2. The parties to the Agreement reiterate their commitment to strictly adhere to the principle to refrain from threat or use of force, of political, economic or other forms of pressure towards each other.

3. The parties admit that good will should be the determining factor for strengthening mutual confidence and for reaching mutually acceptable full-scale resolution of the conflict.

In the interest of comprehensive settlement of their relations, the Parties confirm their commitment to work out, with participation of international experts, political-legal assessments of the events of recent years, and find out the rots and causes of the conflict.

In the interest of comprehensive settlement of their relations, the Parties confirm their commitment to work out, with participation of international experts, political-legal assessments of the events of recent years, and find out the rots and causes of the conflict.

4.

5.

6.  The parties confirm the necessity of stage-by-stage transformation of the area of Georgian-Ossetian conflict into the demilitarized zone.

   The Parties confirm that the activities of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces in       the area of conflict, carried out in conformity with the Agreement on the          principles of Georgian-Ossetian Conflict Resolution of 24 June 1992, shall      continue until making other decision by both Sides, shall             continue until making other decision by both Sides.

7. The parties shall continue to improve the cooperation between their law enforcement bodies and take specific measures to strengthen law and order in the area of conflict, to elaborate and carry out coordinated special programs to combat crime.

The Parties to the conflict reiterate their commitment to prevent and suppress any illegal actions violating human rights on the basis of ethnic considerations.

The Parties to the conflict reiterate their commitment to prevent and suppress any illegal actions violating human rights on the basis of ethnic considerations.

8.

9.  The parties amplify their joint efforts to solve specific problems of rehabilitation of their economic relations (energy, transport, communications etc.), shall encourage initiation and fulfillment of common projects and creation of joint ventures.

The parties shall jointly work on the problem of setting appropriate legal basis for the mechanisms of rehabilitation and development of the economy in the zone of Georgian-Ossetian conflict

10.  The Georgian party, together with the South Ossetian party shall facilitate attraction of foreign investments, low-interest credits and subsidies for economic rehabilitation and development in the area of Georgian-Ossetian conflict, as well as to implement international social-economic and humanitarian programs for the territories, affected during the conflict.

At the same time the Georgian party shall maximally consider the priorities of the South Ossetian party when working out and implementing above-mentioned international projects of rehabilitation and development.

11. The Georgian party is ready to coordinate with the South Ossetian party the distribution of means envisaged in Georgian budget for the rehabilitation works in the area of Georgian-Ossetian conflict. The mechanism of multilateral control over spending these means shall be used.

12.

13. The Georgian and South Ossetian Siades mutually guarantee not to take unilateral decisions and actions, which would contradict to this Agreement (Declaration).

The parties have agreed that the fulfillment of this Agreement (Declaration) shall enjoy the guarantees of the Russian Federation. The OSCE shall act as facilitator party.

14. All the disputes arising between the Parties shall be resolved by the authorized delegations of the Parties including through the mediation of the Russian Federation and with the participation of the republic of North Ossetia-Alania and the OSCE.

15. Implementation of practical arrangements of this Agreement (Declaration) shall be carried out within the framework of the Joint Control Commission, as well as in coopeation during the meetings of authorized delegations of the parties, of representatives of executive and legislative bodies.

16. This Agreement (Declaration) shall enter in force upon signing.

Made in         on           1999

(Archive of the Mission of OSCE to Georgia)