STATEMENT OF THE INTERPARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE STATES-MEMBERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE INDEPENDENT STATES

The Interparliamentary assembly of the states-members of the CIS expresses deep concern about the absence of essential progress in the full-scale settlement of the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia, despite the efforts, conducted by the heads of the CIS, the Russian Federation, the UNO and the OSCE.

The assembly confirms its position about the sovereignty of Georgia and its territorial integrity in the boundaries, recognized by the International Community and necessity to define the political status of Abkhazia.

The assembly approves and supports the peacekeeping efforts of the Russian Federation, the UNO and the OSCE, as mediators in the issue of settlement, calling to the heads of states of the CIS and members of Parliament, to activate own work in this direction. It again appeals to the Abkhazian side with appeal to refrain from the steps, which could complicate the situation and diminish the peaceful negotiations process.

The Council of Interparliamentary assembly confirms the rights of refugees to return safely to their original places of inhabitance and appeals to the Abkhazian side, immediately, without any previous conditions to exhilarate the process and to create the guarantees of security of Abkhazia’s population and appeals to the sides in the conflict for normalizing the situation and achievement of progress in its settlement.

The Assembly confirms its belief in the soonest settlement of the problem in Abkhazia by peaceful means for the benefit of its multiethnic population, all the peoples of Georgia, the Commonwealth, for the benefit of peace and stability in the region of Caucasus.

Saint-Petersburg, November 2, 1996.

(Collection of documents on the issue of settlement of the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia, adopted in the period of 1992 till 1999., author G. Uridia, Tb., 1999, page 82)