PROTOCOL OF THE  GALI  MEETING  BETWEEN THE GEORGIAN AND ABKHAZ SIDES on the issues of stabilization of the situation in the security

As a response to the aggravating situation in the security zone, a meeting under the chairmanship of Mr. Dieter Boden, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, with the participation of Mr. Anis A. Bajwa, Chief Observer of the UNOMIG and Mr. Sergey Korobko, the Commander-in-Chief of the CIS Peace-Keeping Forces, took place on 3 May 2000 in Gali district.

In the course of this meeting the sides committed themselves to the principal of non-use of military force. Any disputed issues shall be solved only by peaceful means through negotiations.

Guided by the Moscow Agreement of 14 May 1994, the Statement of 14 August 1997, the Protocol of 24 September 1998, the Protocol of 21 December 1998, the Protocol of 19 January 2000, and the Protocol of 3 January 2000, the sides agreed on the following:

1. The sides commit themselves not to allow any propaganda of military solution of the conflict.

The sides will initiate the criminal prosecution against the individuals calling for the unlawful actions based on the political motivation.

2. Overall strength of armed formations of each side, including the police and militia, and located in the security zone, will not exceed 600 persons. The parties are allowed to exceed this limit only after giving preliminary notice of the other side to the conflict, General Headquarters of the CIS Peacekeeping Forces and the Chief Military Observer of the UNOMIG.

The CIS Peace-Keeping Forces and the UNOMIG observers will carry out permanent monitoring to make sure that the manpower of the sides dislocated in the security zone does not exceed the agreed limit.

3. The sides will set up three-man groups, composed of representatives of the respective Ministries of Interior, Security and Prosecutor’s offices. These groups will carry out permanent control over the situation in the security zone and undertake all urgent measures aimed at resolution of existing conflict situations. If necessary, heads and deputies of the aforementioned law-enforcement bodies will involve themselves in the working groups.

These groups will cooperate in their struggle against illegal trafficking and other criminal offences committed by the organized criminal bands operating in the security zone.

4. The sides will exchange on regular basis list of those offenders who have committed crimes in the security zone and absconded on the territories controlled by the sides. In addition, the Parties will undertake all necessary measures to arrest and prosecute the persons involved in unlawful activities.

5. Leaderships of the Prosecutor’s offices of the sides concerned will nominate one representative each, responsible for a timely implementation of the work of investigation groups on politically motivated offences.

On Behalf of the Georgian Side G. Arsenishvili

On Behalf of the Abkhaz Side V. Tsugba

On Behalf the UN On Behalf the CIS Peace-Keeping Forces S. Korobko

11 July 2000

(Archive of the Staff of the State Minister of Georgia for Conflict Resolution Issues/in Russian)