JOINT STATEMENT of the Eighth Session of the Working Group One

On 11 September 2001 at Tbilisi headquarter of the UNOMIG the Eighth Ssession of the Working Group One was held under the chairmanship of the Chief Military observer of the UNOMIG Major General Anis Badjwa. The Georgian delegation was led by Mr. Polikarp Moniava. The Abkhaz delegation was led by Lieutenant General Vladimir Arshba. Major-General Dmitriy Bughayev participated from the CIS PKF. Mr. Malkhaz Kakabadze and Mr. Zurab Lakerbaia also participated at the session. After opening remarks of the chairman the following issues were discussed:

1. Security issues.

A. Chief of Staff of the CIS PKF delivered report on the situation in the conflict zone and in the Kodori Valley.

B. The Georgian side will provide the information at the Quadripartite Meeting on 20 September 2001 regarding the implementation of Paragraph 2.4 of the Moscow Agreement on a Cease-fire and Separation of Forces signed 14 May 1994.

C. In accordance with this Agreement, CIS PKF and UNOMIG will carry out regular patrols of the Kodori Valley. (By the end of September 2001, the Georgian side will have held the relevant consultations on ensuring the security for the UN Military Observers and the CIS PKF).

D. The Georgian side, if necessary, will consider possibility of a single participation of the representative from the Abkhaz side in patrolling in the Kodori Valley.

E. The sides agreed that if there is suspicion in arbitrary execution of detained persons, the sides shall secure immediate access of the group of doctors of the UNOMIG to the dead body for carrying out an independent examination.

F. In accordance with the Gali Protocol of 11 May 2001, the Georgian side will provide information by September 20 of 2001 on the progress of criminal investigations into the persons handed over by the Abkhaz side. The UNOMIG will continue controlling over the implementation of this Protocol.

G. The Abkhaz side will check the information provided by the Georgian side on 11 September 2001 and, if confirmed, will take measures to ensure the security of the peaceful population.

2. Gali Protocol of 14 August 2001

A. The sides provided the information on implementation of Paragraph 4 of the Protocol of the Gali Meeting of 14 August 2001.

B. The following information was provided with regard of the persons held on the Georgian side:

(1) the whereabouts of two persons are still unknown.

(2) four hostages have been released.

(3) One is dead.

C. The following information was provided with regard of the persons held on the Abkhaz side:

(1) the whereabouts of six hostages are still unknown (including Mr. Gabelia who was originally listed at the Annex to the Protocol);

(2) six hostages have been released

(3) one corpse has been returned to the Georgian Side.

D. The Group agreed to take all necessary measures to find missing persons.

3. The Joint Fact-Finding Group. The Chairman of the Joint Fact-Finding Group reported on the activity of the Group since the last Session on 10 July 2001.

A. As agreed at the Seventh Session, the sides confirmed that the members of the Joint Fact-Finding Group will exchange information in writing at the weekly quadripartite meetings of the Joint Fact-Finding Group.

4. Restricted Weapon Zone. The sides discussed the issue on review the limits of Restricted Weapon Zone. The Chief Military Observer of the UNOMIG will have additional consultations with the sides on this issue before the next session of the Coordinating Council with a view to putting forward a mutually acceptable recommendations.

5. Next Session. The next Ninth Session of the Working Group One will be held at the headquarter of the UNOMIG in Sukhumi in mid-December of 2001.

For the Georgian Side P. Moniava

For the Abkhaz Side V. Arshrba

For the CIS PKF D. Bugayev

For the UNOMIG A. Bajva

11 September 2001

(Archive of the Staff of the State Minister of Georgia for Conflict Resolution Issues/in Russian)