JOINT STATEMENT of the Twelfth
Session of the Working Group One
On 20
July 2002 in Chuburkhinji at the CIS PKF
CP 201 the Twelfth Session of the Working Group One was held under the
chairmanship of the Major General Kazi Ashfaq. The Georgian side was headed by Mr. Malkhaz Kakabadze. The Abkhaz
side was headed by Mr. Sergei Shamba.
The group of the CIS PKF was headed by Major General Alexander Evteev.
1. The package of questions were
included on the agenda, including security and confidence measures in Kodori valleye, also the
situation in the Security Zone.
2. The sides reaffirmed their commitments not to
use force against each other and resolve all disputable problems only through
the peaceful means.
3. The Georgian side once again stated that it had
fulfilled all the commitments taken in conformity with the Protocol of the
meeting of Georgian and Abkhaz Sides in Sukhumi on 29 March 2002. In addition to this
statement the Georgian side informed about significant reduction of the number
of Georgian border guards at the upper part of Kodori Valley with regard to the number set out
in the list of members of staff as mentioned in the letter of Mr. Malkhaz Kakabadze. The Georgian side gave the explanation about
the legal status and role of reservists, residing in upper part of the Kodori
Valley. The Georgian side
confirmed its intension to withdraw by the end of this month three mortars and
ammunitions remaining in the village
of Chkhalta
after withdrawal of military units of the Ministry of Defence
of Georgia
in compliance with the Protocol of 29 March 2002.
4. The Abkhaz side agreed that measures taken
under the aegis of the UNOMIG, particularly, the resumption of patrols to Kodori
Valley by the
representatives of the UNOMIG and CIS PKF would facilitate stabilization of the
situation. At the same time the Abkhaz
side adheres to the opinion that presence of Georgian border guards in Kodori
Valley and armed
reservists is a violation of existing agreements, including the Moscow agreement on
Cease-fire and Separation of Forces of 14 May 1994. The
Abkhaz side still considers that establishment of permanent posts of the UNOMIG
and PKF of the CIS at the upper part of Kodori Valley, as well as the demilitarization
of Kodori valley could be important contribution to
the peace and confidence building process.
5. The representative of the CIS PKF provided the
information that within 7 months of 2002 the PKF suffered losses in Kodori Valley
closer to the Post 107 (Upper Lata).
One serviceman died, three wounded, one vehicle
was exploded. The loss was a result of
subversions and shelling. The situation with regard of PKF in Kodori Gorge is assessed as volatile and tensed.
6. The Chairman of the PKF of the CIS informed
regarding withdrawal of the Posts
of PKF 105 and 103 at the northern part of the
Security Zone in order to vacate school in Zemo-Bargebi
and dwelling house in Repo-Etseri.
For the Georgian Side M. Kakabadze
For the Abkhaz Side S. Shamba
For the CPKF of the CIS A. Evteev
For the UNOMIG K. Ashfaq
20 July 2002
(Archive of the Staff of the State Minister of Georgia for Conflict
Resolution Issues/in Russian)