APPEAL OF THE GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT TO THE ABKHAZ PEOPLE AND THE POPULATION OF ABKHAZIA

Georgians and Abkhazians, representatives of other ethnic groups living in Abkhazia have not yet recovered from the severe scars that the outbreak of a bloody conflict in Abkhazia has left behind for us.

Many future generations will contemplate who was responsible for the outbreak of the conflict, yet one thing is the most important: we all, Georgians and Abkhazians, are responsible for what will happen from now on.

The Parliament elected by the people of Georgia takes the full responsibility for the future fate of the population in the inseparable part of our motherland – Abkhazia, for provision of stable guarantees of peaceful and free development of the Abkhazian nation.

The Parliament of Georgian expresses its willingness to start a dialogue in any format acceptable for the Abkhazian side with regard to the definition of Abkhazia’s political status within the integrated state. We are sure that there is no alternative to peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Today, when the issue of peacekeeping forces withdrawal from the conflict zone may be put on the agenda, the main objective is mobilization of forces on both sides with a view to prevent violence and hostilities from starting again and to provide for unwavering observation of the ceasefire regime.

It is most important that now, tired of bloodshed and war, destruction and ravage, we should rise over our pains, refuse any revanche and vengeance, and realize together that the way of reconciliation is the only way that would lead us towards living together in peace.

The Parliament of Georgia.

Tbilisi, 30 May 1997

(Archive of the Parliament of Georgia)