PROTOCOL OF THE NINTH MEETING OF THE EXPERT GROUPS OF PLENIPOTENTIARY DELEGATIONS OF THE SIDES IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE NEGOTIATIONS PROCESS ON THE FULL-SCALE SETTLEMENT OF THE GEORGIAN-OSSETIAN CONFLICT

On July 15, 2003 in the city of Tskhinvali took place ninth meeting of the expert groups of plenipotentiary delegations of the sides in the framework of the negotiations process on the full-scale settlement of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict with mediation of the Russian Federation, with participation of the Republics of Northern Ossetia-Alania and the OSCE and in the presence of representatives of the European Commission (the list is attached).

During the meeting took place the exchange of opinions on advisability of providing for analytical review of the development of negotiations process.

The participants of the meeting discussed the agenda of the tenth meeting of experts groups of plenipotentiary delegations of the sides in the framework of the negotiations process on the full-scale settlement of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict. It was decided to discuss at the tenth meeting of the experts groups the issue “On situation of the process of settlement of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict and prospects of the settlement of the issues, related with the full-scale settlement on the basis of review of results of the previous experts groups of the plenipotentiary delegations of the sides.”

The participants of the meeting took notice of the information of the Head of the OSCE Mission to Georgia, J.M. Lacombe on the decision of the Dutch Chairmanship of the OSCE to propose organizing of the next (tenth) meeting of the experts’ groups in Netherlands in October of 2003. The participants of the meeting also took notice of the willingness of the Russian side to provide for organization of such meeting in the city of Moscow.

The sides expressed deep gratitude to the South-Ossetian side for the provided hospitality and creation of the facility conditions for the work of delegations.

On behalf of the South-Ossetian side (signed)

On behalf of the Georgian side (signed)

On behalf of the Russian side (signed)

On behalf of the Northern-Ossetian side (signed)

On behalf of the OSCE (signed)

(Archive of the staff of the State Minister of Georgia on Conflict Settlement)