COMMUNIQUE on the Results of Working Visit of the Chairman of the Council of Nationalities of the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation Abdulatipov R.G. and the Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Shakhrai S. M. in the Republic of Georgia.

In the course of frank and constructive negotiations of the Russian delegation with the Head of Georgian State, leadership of the Parliament and the Government, both Russian and Georgian sides confirmed that the existing in Georgia acute ethno-political conflicts, as a result of which hundreds of people have been killed and are still being killed, have extremely negative impact on all spheres of lives of people residing in Georgia, deteriorate the current state of Russian-Georgian relations and make bleak their perspectives. There can be no doubt that the existing tensions in inter-ethnic relations in Georgia- in the zone of Georgian-Ossetian conflict and in Abkhazia, have destabilizing impact on political, economic and social situation in Russia and the Republics of Northern Caucasus, because tens of thousands of refuges of different ethnic groups found themselves homeless and are condemned to material and spiritual sufferings.

The Parties agreed that solution of the existing painful problems in Georgia and the Caucasus in general, including the Russian Federation, calls for unitary, in advance agreed-upon approach. They are genuinely concerned due to the deterioration of relations between the two neighboring states and are trying to demonstrate maximum possible restraint, in order not to prevent further deterioration of these relations.

Time, blood, death and sufferings of thousands of people had proved many times that ethno-political problems and conflicts could not be solved by force, especially when it comes to war. Application of violent means tends to further deepen and complicate such conflicts, therefore supporting and strengthening ultra extremist forces that are bringing the nations to catastrophe.

Both Russian and Georgian sides do believe that solution of existing contradictions in the sphere of inter-ethnic and inter-State relations in the Caucasian region, genuine peace and concord between the peoples and their well-being call for joint, concerted efforts of all interested states- Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and Russia. To be sure, these efforts will be even more productive, if representatives all sides involved in the conflicts in Georgia, as well representatives from Northern Caucasian Republics, Krays and Oblasts of the Russian Federation, play active role in these efforts. To this end, the Russian side has put forward a proposal to organize a similarly to that high level meeting within the framework of one of forthcoming meetings of the Coordination Council of North Caucasus.

The sides favored settlement of the conflict in Abkhazia by peaceful, political means, prompt resumption of negotiation process with due respect to the realities brought about by the Moscow agreement signed on September 3, 1992. Due to this very reason, they deemed it expedient to resume activities of the Control-Inspection Commission on Cease-Fire and Settlement of the Conflict. At the same time, it was deemed by the sides as unacceptable to allow armed formations of the conflicting parties to participate in the work of the commission.

In the course of negotiations, representatives of the Russian delegation expressed their belief that if the Georgian leadership undertook decisive and effective measures aimed at protection of legitimate rights of Russian military personnel stationed in Georgia, as well as rights of ethnic and religious minorities, securing save and timely return of refugees belonging to different ethnic groups to their homes, including to the zone of Georgian-Ossetian conflict, to Abkhazia and other internal regions of Georgia, such actions on the part of Georgian leadership would surely contribute to improvement of the relations between Georgia and Russia. That would create solid guarantees for normal peaceful life.

The Georgian side believes that settlement of many conflict-related problems, including the problem of return of refugees, is contingent on disarmament of all illegal armed formations active in conflict zones, and deems it essential to decide on withdrawal of Russian military units from the conflict zones, to improve the effectiveness of peace-keeping forces that were set up on the basis of the Sochi agreement and believes that these forces should be involved in protection of Russian-Georgian border in the zone of Georgian-Ossetian conflict.

Both Georgian and Russian sides expressed their firm conviction that principles of peace, good neighborly relations and cooperation shall serve as solid foundation for relationship between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Georgia and surely, conclusion of an inter-state framework agreement, agreement on the status of Russian military units and border guards stationed in Georgia, further expanding and development of inter-Parliamentary links would greatly contribute to better cooperation between our States.

On behalf of the Russian Federation R. Abdulatypov, S. Shakhrai

On behalf of the Republic of Georgia R. Gotsiridze, V. Rcheulishvili, A. Kavsadze

18 February 1993

(Newspaper “Sakartvelos Respublica”, # 38, 25 February 1993)