DECLARATION on the results of the First Meeting of the Quadripartite Commission on the issues of voluntary return of refugees and displaced persons

Proceeding from the Quadripartite Agreement of 4 April 1994 signed in Moscow on voluntary return of refugees and displaced persons the first meeting of the quadripartite Commission was held on 8-9 of April in Sochi.

In the course of the meeting the schedule of the work of quadripartite Commission was discussed, including activity of experts on certain issues.

It was decided to hold the next meeting of the Commission on 26 April 1994.

The sides agreed that before the next meeting of the quadripartite Commission the UNHCR Mission would pay a working visit to Gali region of Abkhazia and the places of settlement of refugees in order to elaborate the plans for triggering the measures on return of refugees and displaced persons.

The sides reaffirmed their readiness to pursue principles and proposals of the Moscow Agreement of 4 April 1994 on voluntary return of refugees and displaced persons proceeding from the fact that the process of return would be connected with deployment of the peacekeeping forces.

At the same time the sides assume that concrete steps for preparatory work on return of refugees and displaced persons shall be started expeditiously.

On behalf of Georgian side V. Vashakidze

On behalf of Abkhaz side L. Lakerbaia

On behalf of Russian side N. Chulkov

On behalf of UNHCR A. Verwey

Sochi, 9 April 1994

(Newspaper “Svobodnaia Gruzia”, # 57, 12 April 1994)