PROTOCOL OF THE SUKHUMI MEETING BETWEEN THE GEORGIAN AND ABKHAZ SIDES on the Implementation of the Protocol of 24 September 1998 and Other Measures Aimed at Stabilization of the Situation in the Security zones and Limited Weaponry

In accordance with an Agreement of 14 May 1994, Statement of 14 August of 1997, Protocol of 25 May 1998, Protocol of 24 September 1998, and Protocol of 21 December 1998, during this period the Parties have fulfilled a number of pledged commitments.

Namely, point 2 of the Protocol of 21 September 1998 on clarification of the demarcation line in villages of Nabakevi - Khurcha and Otobaia - Gamakhuri between the armed formations of the sides to the conflict has been fulfilled.

In accordance with point 3 of this Protocol, permanent operative communication between the heads of Zugdidi and Gali Administrations are kept.

In addition, on 19 January 2000 the Sides to the conflict signed in Tbilisi a Protocol on establishment of a joint group on investigation of the politically motivated crimes. The group has started its activities.

However, the operative situation in the security zones and limited weaponry remains rather tense. There are a lot of cases of subversive activities and terrorist acts. In most cases, the victims of these illegal activities are law enforcement officers and civilian population.

The practice of taking hostages has become commonplace.

The point 1 of the Protocol of 24 September 1998, according to which the Parties were obliged to reduce their military presence in the security zones and limited weaponry to the number, laid down in the Moscow Agreement of 14 May 1994 has not been implemented.

All the aforementioned constitute a serious threat of the resumption of confrontation between the parties.

Acting in the spirit of signed agreements on refusal to use force or threat of use of force, the Parties have agreed on the following:

1. Based on the point 1 of the Protocol of 24 January 1998, the Parties, together with the CIS Peace-Keeping Forces and the UNOMIG, commit themselves to calculate within a month the number of military personnel and weaponry in the security zones and limited weaponry and bring it down to the level agreed before and shall not allow the further exceed.

2. The Parties, together with the CIS Peace-Keeping Forces and the UNOMIG shall undertake within a month all appropriate measures to withdraw from the zones of security and limited weaponry all illegal armed groups and individuals.

3. Within two-month term the Parties shall release all the hostages taken by the armed formation from December 1999 to January 2000.

Within the same time limit the Georgian side shall transfer to the Abkhaz side the bodies the individuals perished on 25 January 2000.

4. The Parties undertake to realize the point 3 of the Protocol of 21 December 1998 on the establishment of permanent telephone “hotline” between the heads of the Gali and Zugdidi Administration and between the field commanders acting in the security zones and limited weaponry, and in conformity with the point 4 of the same Protocol to settle the issue of rotation of armed formations dislocated along the dividing line.

5. Pursuant to the Gagra Protocol of 25 May 1998 the Parties commit themselves to undertake all necessary measures to prevent penetration of criminal armed formations and individuals into the security zones and limited weaponry.

6. In order to guarantee the implementation of the provisions of this Protocol, the Parties commit themselves to maintain permanent connection and if necessary, to undertake joint measures.

From the Georgian Side Mr. V. Lordkipanidze

From the Abkhaz Side Mr. V. Tsugba

From the UN Mr. D. Boden

From the CIS Peace- Keeping Forces Mr. S. Korobko

3 February 2000

(Newspaper “Respublica Abkhazia”, # 14, 9-10 February 2000)