DECISION TAKEN BY THE COUNCIL OF THE HEADS OF STATES OF THE COMMONWELATH OF INDEPENDENT STATES on Extension of the term of presence and additions to the Mandate of the Collective Peacekeeping Forces in the conflict zone of Abkhazia, Georgia

The Council of the Heads of States of the Commonwealth of Independent States,

Reaffirming its commitment to the previous decisions and obligations relevant to the settlement of the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia,

Noting that the presence of the Collective Peacekeeping Force encourages the stabilization of the situation in the conflict zone and establishes the situation for comprehensive political regulation in this region,

decided:

1.  To extend, with the consent of the Sides, the term of presence of the Collective peacekeeping Force in the conflict zone of Abkhazia, Georgia until 31 January of 1997 or until one of the Sides of the conflict declares on suspension of the operation.

2.  To add to the Mandate of the Collective Peacekeeping Force the following provision:

In order to assure the security of refugees in Gali Region (within old frontiers), and in addition to the function of the Collective Peacekeeping Force set up in the Agreement on Cease-fire and Separation of Forces of 14 May 1994, the Collective Peacekeeping Force in cooperation with the local authorities of the Sides shall carry out the measures for prevention of terrorist, subversive and other armed formations existing in the territory or penetrating from outside;

Collective peacekeeping Force shall assure the security of the personnel of the UNOMIG, the OSCE and other international organizations upon their appeal and through the coordination with local authorities.

3.  The Council of Ministers of the Foreign Affairs of the CIS and the Council of Ministers of Defence of the CIS shall continue efforts together with the representatives of the Sides for deliberation of the Mandate of the Collective peacekeeping Force respecting the developments in the conflict zone and in compliance with the Decisions taken by the Council of the Heads of States of the Commonwealth of Independent States of 19 January and 17 May of 1996.

4. Calls upon the Sides to intensify their efforts to achieve substantive progress at the negotiations towards a comprehensive political settlement of the conflict with participation of the Russian federation as facilitator.

This Decision is taken pursuant to the Paragraph 6 of the Rule 20 of the Regulations of the Council of Heads of States and Council of the heads of Governments of the Commonwealth of independent States.

Done at Moscow 17 October 1996 in one original copy in Russian language…

Chairman of the Council of the Heads of States of the CIS B. Yeltsin

(www.un.org/russian; Collection of the documents on Peacekeeping activity adopted within the frame of  the CIS (in two volumes), Minsk, 2001, Chief-Editor Y. Yiarov, p. 172-173/in Russian)