MEMORANDUM BY THE HEADS OF STATES OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES on Maintaining the Peace and Stability in the Commonwealth of Independent States

The member-countries of he Commonwealth of Independent States,

Based on the historical ties between them,

Being devoted to the principles of stability and considering that unsettled conflicts between the member-states of the CIS run counter to the basic interests of the founding principles of the CIS,

Expressing their adherence to the goals and principles of the UN Charter, the CSCE, the CIS Charter and the documents adopted within the frame of the Commonwealth of Independent States, considering that maintaining of peace and stability in cooperation between the states is an imprescriptible condition to the functioning of the Commonwealth of Independent States to secure economic and social-political development of each member-state and the commonwealth in whole,

Acknowledging that maintaining the peace within the Commonwealth as well as in member-states serve to the best interest of the peoples of these states,

Declare on the following:

1. The member-states of the commonwealth of Independent States will refrain themselves from military, political, economic and other forms of pressure against each-other.

2. The member-states, signatories to this Memorandum pursuant to their national legislation will not support creation and operation on their respective territories the organizations and groups, as well as the activity of certain individuals against the independence, territorial integrity and border inviolability, or attempting to strain inter-ethnic relations of a member-state of the CIS.

3. The States confirm inviolability of existing borders and readiness to encourage the regulation of disputes and conflicts through peaceful mechanisms with regard of borders and territories.

4. In case the situation when the interests of any member-state, signatory to this Memorandum are prejudiced, it can appeal to the other member-states of the Commonwealth of Independent States for immediate consultations.

5. The member-states, signatories to this memorandum shall refrain themselves from any direct or indirect intervention to the internal affairs of a member-state, signatory to this memorandum.

6. The member-states shall refrain themselves from joining the alliance and blocs that act against any member-state of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

7. The member-states of the Commonwealth pursuant to their national legislation and international norms shall undertake the measures to prevent any forms of separatism, nationalism, chauvinism and fascism on their respective territories.

They shall encourage objective and impartial media coverage of public-political processes in other member-states of the Commonwealth.

8. The member-states commit themselves not to support separatist movement of other member-states on their territories, as well as separatist regimes; if such is emerged, they shall not establish political, economic and other relations with them; they shall not provide territory and communication means to them, either financial, economic, military or any other assistance.

9. The member-states will exert their effort to support each-other in order to strengthen mutual trust and security between the member-states of the commonwealth of independent States.

Done at Almaty on 10 February 1995 in one original copy in Russian language…

Signed by the heads of States of the Commonwealth of Independent States

The Republic of Armenia signed the Memorandum with a note: “taking into consideration the special views of Armenia and except paragraphs 7-8"

10 February 1995, Kazakhstan, Almaty

(T. Nadareishvili, Genotside in Abkhazia, Tbilisi, 1996, p. 278-279/in Russian)