DECREE ISSUED BY THE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY - THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ABKHAZIA on the Decision Taken by the heads of States of the Commonwealth of independent states of 28 march 1997 “on Support the Peacekeeping Operations in the Conflict Zone of Abkhazia, Georgia”

Having heard and discussed the information of the Legal Committee on the Decision taken by the Council of the heads of States of the Commonwealth of Independent States of 28 march 1997 “on Support the Peacekeeping Operations in the Conflict Zone of Abkhazia, Georgia”, the People’s Assembly - the parliament of the Republic of Abkhazia notes, that the decision on expansion of the security zone opposes to the Agreement on cease-fire and Separation of Forces of 14 May 1994 under which the Peacekeeping Force has been deployed to the Abkhaz-Georgian conflict zone and such decision leads the destabilization to the region.  Pursuant to this Agreement “ The function of the peacekeeping force of the Commonwealth of Independent States shall exert its best efforts to maintain the cease-fire and to see that it is strictly observed. Furthermore, its presence should promote the safe return of refugees and displaced persons, especially to the Gali region”.

The changes to the Mandate of the Peacekeeping Force can be done only with the mutual consent of the Sides.

The People’s Assembly - Parliament of the Republic of Abkhazia considers that ignoring the vision of Abkhazia, as the Side to the conflict, can only lead the further opposition and failure of the process of political settlement of the Georgian-Abkhaz military confrontation.

The People’s Assembly-Parliament of the Republic of Abkhazia decrees:

1. The decision taken by the heads of States of the Commonwealth of Independent States of 28 March 1997 without consent of the Abkhaz Side and in violation of the Agreement on Cease-fire and Separation of Forces with regard of expansion of the security zone and re-dislocation of peacekeeping force is unacceptable to the Abkhaz Side.

2. To appeal to the Council of the Heads of Sates of the Commonwealth of Independent States and Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS with the request of sending the commission to Abkhazia in order to learn the situation and proposals of the Abkhaz Side on peacekeeping operations and achievement of comprehensive political settlement of the Georgian-Abkhaz military conflict.

R. Kharabua

Deputy Speaker of the Parliament-People’s Assembly of the Republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, 1 April 1997

(Newspaper “Respublika Abkhazia”, # 28, 16-18 April 1997)