PROTOCOL of Negotiations Between the Governmental Delegations of the Republic of Georgia and the Russian Federation

On 6-9 April 1993, negotiations between the Governmental Delegations of the Republic of Georgia - headed by the Prime Minister Mr. T. I. Sigua, and the Russian Federation –headed by the Minister of Defence P. S.  Grachev ware held in Sochi.

The Parties to the conflict, seeking to put an end to the dragged out bloodshed and to take a constructive step towards settlement of the conflict in Abkhazia and proceeding from the provisions of the Final Moscow Document of 3 September 1992, expressed their strong determination to immediately and without any preconditions, introduce a cease-fire regime and denounce usage of military force against each other, and the Parties believe that such steps would pay the way for the transitional period, in the course of which a number of confidence-building measures between the opposing Parties will be elaborated and implemented.

Any settlement of the conflict should envisage the commitments not to resume hostilities, undertaken by the Parties to the conflict, and denounce any military offence and building of utilities of military infrastructure.

The Commission for Control and Inspection in Abkhazia (CCI), composed of representatives appointed by the Georgian Authorities, including the Abkhazian ones, and the Authorities of the Russian Federation, shall resume their activities. The Commission guarantees compliance with the cease-fire regime.

Immediate de-mining, restoration of destroyed, as a result of hostilities, segments of railways and highways, shall be monitored and promoted by the Commission, as well as securing safe access to them and their proper functioning.

A special group shall be set up within the jurisdiction of the Commission, which shall address the issues related return and accommodation of refugees and internally displaced persons.

The population that suffered as a result of the conflict shall be rendered a humanitarian aid.

A number of measures, aimed at strengthening the fight against criminal underworld and protection of human rights of ethnic minorities, shall be undertaken in full conformity with the international law.

The Russian Side declared about its readiness to discuss these and other issues with representatives of Abkhazia. In particular, issues related to conservation of seismic and other scientific equipment located in the Eshera laboratory #24, shall be addressed during the meetings with representatives of Abkhazia. The Laboratory with a radius of 200 meters from the center, occupies 1250 square meters and is a access-restricted zone and to be protected through application of engineer and military-technical means. The Russian side believes that security in this zone should be guaranteed by mixed Russian, Georgian and Abkhazian military contingent, number of personnel of which should be agreed upon in advance.

From the point of view of the Georgian side, it is essential to carry out the process of withdrawal of Russian military unit that protects the seismic laboratory located in the conflict zone.

The Parties to the conflict pledge do not undertake offences in the zone where the laboratory is located.

Within the context of settlement of the conflict in Abkhazia, the presence of Georgian and international observers in the zone of Bombora military airdrome shall be positively decided upon.

The Parties to the conflict shall undertake additional effective measures in order to prevent infiltration into the conflict zone of illegal military formations, individuals, weapons and ammunitions.

These and other problems need to be addressed in detail by representatives of Georgia, Abkhazia and Russia in the course of negotiations, in order to pave the way for a new Summit within the format of the Final Document adopted on September 3, 1992.

The Russian and Georgian sides spoke in favor of more active involvement of the United Nations and the OSCE in the conflict settlement process.

As far as the Georgian-Ossetian conflict is concerned, the Delegations agreed to render support the OSCE endeavors aimed at setting going the dialogue between the Parties to the conflict, in order to secure a peaceful and comprehensive settlement of the conflict.

The Sides failed to reach an agreement on a number of issues that have been discussed in the course of negotiations. Among such issues was an issue of presence of Russian military units in Gudauta. Consultations on the aforementioned and other issues shall be continued in the future.

Head of the Governmental Delegation of the Republic of Georgia T. I. Sigua

Head of the Governmental Delegationof the Russian Federation P. S. Grachev

9 April 1993

(Personal archive of the author)