PROTOCOL # 32 OF THE EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF THE CO-CHAIRMEN OF THE JOINT CONTROL COMMISSION (JCC) ON THE GEORGIAN-OSSETIAN CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Tskhinval, 2 June 2004

Agenda:

1. Situation in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict area

2. Time and venue of the next regular JCC meeting

Decided:

1 . Situation in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict area

(Chochiev, Mayorov, Khaindrava, Kusov, Reeve, Nabzdorov, Kebadze, Uchadze, Friev)

1.1. The sides take note of the information provided by S.A.Nabzdorov, Commander of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces (JPKF) in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict area.

1.2. The sites commit to strictly follow provisions of earlier achieved agreements on principles of the conflict settlement, JPKF formation and activities, responsibilities of the sides to avoid measures of coercive, economic or any other forms of pressure to address emerging problems.

1.3. With a view of de-escalating tension in the conflict area:

- the Georgian side shall immediately withdraw the additionally deployed units of the Georgian armed forces from the JPKF responsibility zone.

- the sides agree not to deploy any non-agreed posts in the area of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict.

1.4. JPKF shall report to the JCC Co-Chairmen about implementation of paragraph 1.3 hereof before June 7 2004.

1.5. The sides take note of the Georgian side’s resolution to rotate the Georgian JPKF battalion in the nearest future, by fully using its quota in the frames of the Regulation Concerning the Basic principles of Operation of Military Contingents and Groups of Military Observers Designated for Normalization of the Situation In the Georgian-Ossetian Conflict Zone.

1.6. The sides agree that all issues that could escalate the situation in the conflict zone should be settled effectively at the level of JCC Co-Chairmen.

1.7. Whereas JPKF have no helicopters, the JPKF Commandment is not in a position to fully control the air space in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict area. It is proposed to additionally equip JPKF with helicopters.

1.8. The sides take note of the candidature of Major-General M.M. Kulakhmetov nominated by the Russian side as JPKF Commander.

1.9. The JCC Co-Chairmen adopted a statement of the meeting results for mass media (enclosed).

2. Time and venue of the next regular JCC meeting

2.1. The next regular JCC meeting shall be held in the second decade of June 2004 in Tbilisi.

At the meeting, the Georgian side declared the need for restoring the Gori-Tskhinvali section of the railway.

B. Chochiev

Meeting Chairman, South Ossetian Co-Chairman of the JCC                

(Archive of the OSCE Mission to Georgia)