ORDER OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS – GOVERNMENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

For continuation of the operation on supplying cargo of humanitarian assistance to the population of town of Tkvarcheli and evacuation from the conflict zone in Abkhazia of the suffering population, independent of their nationality and religious belief and also to avoid the threat of explosion of gas methane in the coal mines of town of Tkvarcheli and in compliance with the protocol of negotiations of the governmental delegations of the Russian Federation and of the Republic of Georgia of April 9, 1993:

1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia shall work out with the Georgian side the possibility of restoration of operations on supplying the cargo of humanitarian assistance to the population of town of Tkvarcheli and evacuation of refugees from the conflict zone, sending to town of Tkvarcheli the mixed expert commission on elaboration of measures for avoiding the threat of explosion of gas methane in the coal mines. In case of reception of the positive response to solve the issues of providing for security of flights of the Russian helicopters for the realization of the mentioned operation.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia shall inform the Georgian side that the humanitarian actions of the Russian Federation in the conflict zone shall be organized under the auspices of the UNO and of other international organizations.

2.  Ministry of the Fuel and Energy of Russia and State Technical Surveillance of Russia shall assign the specialists with the necessary equipment for arranging expertise and participation in the elaboration of measures of avoiding explosion of gas methane in the coal mines of town of Tkvarcheli.

3. Ministry of Transport of Russia shall allocate under the commandment of the State Committee of Emergency Situations of Russia, the necessary quantity of helicopters and marine transport means with the identifications signs of the Red Cross for transportation of goods of humanitarian assistance and evacuation of refugees.

4.  Ministry of Defense of Russia shall provide support to the State Committee of Emergency Situations of Russia in transportation of specialists for preparation and implementation of the inspection of the coal mines in the town of Tkvarcheli.

5.  The State Committee of Emergency Situations of Russia shall provide for the coordination of work on supplying the cargo of humanitarian assistance and evacuation of refugees.

6.  FMS of Russia, in case of evacuation of refugees from the conflict zone in Abkhazia shall provide for, along with the administrations of the respective districts and regions, their reception, temporary settlement in the specially allocated places (camps) in accordance with actual number of the evacuated and to support their further settlement on the territory of the Russian Federation and of the other states – members of the CIS (on their choice).

7.  The State Committee of Emergency Situations of Russia:

Shall transfer, in accordance with the Order of the Government of the Russian Federation of January 19, 1993 No 69-r of the Ministry of Defense of Russia and to the Ministry of Transport of Russia unused aviation fuel for provision of humanitarian operations in the conflict zone in Abkhazia;

Shall establish necessary contacts with the representatives of the bodies of the UNO and the specialized international organizations with an aim to provide for necessary financial support to the realized humanitarian operations and to acquire to them neutral international character.

8. Transportation of cargos of humanitarian assistance, directed to the conflict zone in Abkhazia in the frame of the humanitarian operations under auspices of the UNO is implemented without taking customs duties and fees.

State Customs Committee of Russia shall provide for respective orders.

9. Federal Communications Agency shall provide for governmental interstate connection of the head of the operations group of the State Committee of Emergency Situations of Russia during his stay in town Sochi (Adler district).

10. 220 mln. of rubles shall be allocated to the State Committee of Emergency Situations of Russia from the reserve fund of the Government of the Russian Federation for liquidation of consequences of the emergency situation and to formalize and to arrange transportation of cargos of humanitarian assistance and transportation of refugees.

Expenditures on subsistence of refugees in the places of reception and temporary settlement and their transportation on the territory of the Russian Federation is carried out by the FMS of Russia within the frame of allocations, assigned from the republican budget of the Russian Federation for providing assistance to the refugees.

First Deputy Chairman of the

Government of the Russian Federation   V. Shumeiko.

Moscow, May 30, 1993.

(Collection of legislative acts of the President and Government of the Russian Federation, 1993. N 23. pages 2429-2430)