Annex 2 of the Protocol date 4-5 March 1997. Moscow

PROCEDURE Of Activities of the Authorized Delegations on the Negotiations on Full-Scale Settlement of the Georgian-Ossetian Conflict

The delegations of the Georgian and South Ossetian parties, acting with the authorities for the purpose of full-scale settlement of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict, have been formed for fulfillment of agreements of the parties pursuant to the Statement on the results of the meeting between E. Shevardnadze and L. Chibirov in Vladikavkaz dated August 27, 1996 and act on the basis of the above-noted Statement, as well as the Agreement on the principles of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict settlement dated June 24, 1992. The protocol of the meeting of the Georgian, South Ossetian, Russian and North Ossetian parties, with the participation of the the OSCE dated October 30, 1995, and the Memorandum on the actions to be taken for providing security and strengthening mutual confidence between the parties in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict dated May 16, 1996. The final goal of the activities of the authorized delegation is to reach agreement between the parties on each points at issue regarding the mutual relationship and providing full-scale settlement of the conflict through organizing permanent process of negotiations between the parties in the conflict, representatives of Russian and North Ossetian Parties, with the participation of the the OSCE.

1. The activities of the delegations represent permanent process of negotiations of two parties to the conflict, as well as the representatives of Russia and North Ossetian Party with the participation of the the OSCE. The highest organizational form of the process of negotiations is the meeting of delegations of the parties in the person of heads of delegations and other members thereof.

2. Delegations consist of special representatives – heads of the delegation appointed by the leadership of the parties at their discretion, who are authorized to make decisions on behalf of their party on each issue related to their competence, sign relevant documents on behalf of their party.

At the discretion of the leadership of each party, the head of the delegation can have a deputy who will be authorized to execute the function of the head of the delegation in the case of absence of the latter, or in other cases on his/her instructions.

3. Representatives of different international, including non-governmental organizations may be attracted to support the activities carried out between the parties.

4. The main task of the process of negotiations is to develop or approve decisions on various aspects of settlement of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict that are acceptable to the parties.

In addition, the parties are guided by the provisions of the Charter of UN, the fundamental principles and resolutions of the the OSCE, generally recognized standards of the international law and the right of people to self-determination.

5. The final result of the process of negotiations shall be signing of the document that fully settles the disagreement between the parties to the conflict.

This document shall become effective after passing through all the mandatory procedures by the parties.

Before reaching the final settlement of the conflict and signing the above-noted document, the parties may make mutual decisions on separate issues, sign protocols, statements, agreements, and other international documents.

6. For the purpose of fulfilling the above-noted tasks with regard to basic directions of the works, the parties shall establish expert groups.

 

Specialist from other countries and international, including non-governmental organizations, may be invited to participate in the activities of the expert groups.

Expert groups carry out negotiations on then issues that are related to their competencies, and on the basis of the agreement between the parties, prepare analytical materials, projects of various documents for the delegation. In their activities, the expert groups are authorized to require and receive all necessary documents from the respective state agencies and institutions.

The final decisions on the proposals and projects developed by the expert groups shall be made at the meetings of the delegation.

7. The delegations carry out their activities in close cooperation and contacts with the JCC, the organ, established for the purpose of resolving various aspects of the Georgian-Ossetian relationship, within the single framework of the process of the full-scale settlement of the conflict.

8. The members of the delegations enjoy diplomatic immunity and privileges in accordance with the norms of the international law.

Representatives of the parties support a member of the delegations on the spot, and provide her/him with the safety and security.

9. For the purpose of providing the public with the objective information, the delegations can provide the mass media with the materials about the process of their activities.

10. Meetings of the delegations shall be held if necessary. The venue and date of the next meeting shall be defined on the basis of the agreement between the parties.

11. At the meetings, delegations make decisions on the basis of consensus between the parties.

12. For carrying out the current organizational works and support efficient communications, the parties shall establish secretariats.

13. The permanent process of negotiations shall be concluded after reaching full-scale settlement of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict and becoming the document effective as defined under paragraph 5 of this Procedure.

Approved in accordance with the Protocol of the meeting of the delegations of Georgian and South Ossetian parties, having special authorities for the purpose of full-scale settlement of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict, as well as by representatives of Russian and North Ossetian parties, with the participation of the the OSCE.

March 5, 1997, Moscow

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