DECISION TAKEN BY THE COUNCIL OF THE HEADS OF SATES OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES on Support to the Peacekeeping Operations in the Conflict Zone of Abkhazia, Georgia

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

Stressing the important role of the Collective Peacekeeping Force and the UNOMIG Mission in stabilization the situation in the conflict zone, establishment of conditions for return of refugees and displaced persons in safety,

decided:

1. To extend the Mandate of the Collective Force in the conflict zone for a new period terminating on 31 July 1997, or until one of the Sides of the conflict demands the termination of the operation.

2. In order to develop peacekeeping operation, the most comprehensive implementation of tasks within the Mandate of the Collective Peacekeeping Force and its expansion set up in the Decision taken by the Council of the Heads of States of the Commonwealth of independent States of 17 October 1996 On Establishment of the Conditions for Return of Refugees and Displaces Persons in Gali Region (within old frontiers), to consider necessary expansion of relevant security zone determined by he Agreement on Cease-fire and Separation of Forces of 14 May 1994.

The Command of the Collective Peacekeeping Force, in cooperation with the Sides shall elaborate the plan of re-dislocation of Force and other measures related to the return of refugees and displaced persons to the mentioned region.

3. The Command of the Collective Peacekeeping Force, in compliance with the elaborated plan, shall carry out the measures to develop the management of the Force and better coordination of headquarters in the conflict zone.

To endorse the proposals of the Russian federation on enforcement of the personnel of the Collective Peacekeeping Force through substituting some units with the specially trained unites for carrying out peacekeeping function.

4. The council of Ministers of Defence of the Commonwealth of Independent States shall find the capacity to carry out the process of de-mining by the specialists of the CIS member-states in Abkhazia, Georgia.

5. To entrust the Council of ministers of Foreign Affairs and the Council of Ministers of Defence of the commonwealth of Independent States, in coordination with the interested Sides, with a task of carrying out adequate works for elaboration of amendments and additions to the Mandate of the Collective peacekeeping Force based on the changes of situation in the conflict zone and submit it to the Council of the Heads of States.

6. The Ministry of Foreign affairs of the Russian Federation shall inform the UN Security Council on this Decision taken by the heads of States of the Commonwealth of independent States.

Done at Moscow 28 March 1997 in one original copy in Russian language…

Signed by the Heads of States of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The Document hasn’t been signed by the Republic of Belarus, Moldova, Turkmenistan and Ukraine

(www.un.org/russian)