Proposal For The Establishment of a Coordinating Commission, signed in Moscow on 11 May 1994

1. Both parties to the conflict agree to establish a Coordinating Commission to discuss practical matters of mutual interest (energy, transport, communications, ecology and so on). The Commission will be established for the transitional period until the conflict has been resolved.

2. The Coordinating Commission will work in the town of Sochi. At its first meeting, which will take place on 1 June 1994, the Commission will be chaired by a representative of the Russian Federation. Further meetings will be chaired alternately by representatives of both parties, unless agreed otherwise.

3. Both parties to the conflict will each designate four representatives of their choice to the Coordinating Commission. Both parties invite representatives of the United Nations, the Russian Federation and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe to participate as observers in the work of the Commission. In discussion of matters affecting both the interests of the parties and territory of the Russian Federation, the representatives of the latter will take part in the work of the Commission with the rights of a delegation.

4. By the first meeting of the Coordinating Commission the parties to the conflict will prepare proposals for the programme of work of the Coordinating Commission, including those to be discussed at its first meeting. Both parties welcome the readiness of the observers to present their proposals for the programme of work of the Commission.

5. Proposals for the work of the Coordinating Commission will be prepared taking into account the provisions of paragraphs 3, 5 and 6 of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Georgian and the Abkhaz sides of 1 December 1993 (S/26875, appendix).

6. The Commission will act without prejudice to the work of the standing committee agreed on in the Moscow declaration of 4 April 1994 (S/1994/397, annex I).

7. Both parties agree to take all decisions by consensus of delegations.

8. Participation in the Coordinating Commission will not prejudge the legal positions of both parties with regard to the future status of Abkhazia.

For the Georgian side: (Signed) J. Ioseliani

For the Abkhaz side: (Signed) S. Jinjolia

In the presence of:

From the United Nations: (Signed) E. Brunner

From the Russian Federation: (Signed) B. Pastukhov

From the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe: (Signed) V. Manno

(www.un.org/docs)