PROTOCOL # 12 OF EXPANDED
MEETING OF JPKF COMMAND AND LAW-ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES OF THE SIDES
18 June 2004
Attended by:
Major-General S. A.
Nabzdorov, JPKF Commander
Colonel Y. L.
Akhmetov, Head of JPKF Joint Command
Colonel A. V.
Priakhin, Assistant JPKF Commander for Public Relations
Colonel K. N. Friev,
Senior Military Head of the RNO-Alania Military Contingent
Colonel G. M. Gugutsidze,
Georgian Deputy Head of JPKF Joint Command
Colonel A. S.
Baliadin, RF Commander of 2 Motorized Riffle Battalions (MRB)
Colonel A. B.
Kiknadze, Georgian Commander of 3 Motorized Riffle Battalions
Major M. Rokos,
OSCE Monitoring Officer
Officers from JPKF
Joint Command
Representatives of
law-enforcement agencies of the sides
Speakers: 1.
Major-General S. A. Nabzdorov, JPKF Commander
He noted that a lot
of issues accumulated in the period of escalation need to be discussed jointly,
and proposed the following agenda:
1. Discussion and approval
of the qualitative and quantitative composition and location of permanent and
temporary observation posts of the peacekeeping forces.
2. Provision of
control over two roads;
3. Fulfillment of
the peacekeeping mandate by the MRB personnel.
4. Interaction
between peacekeeping forces and law-enforcement agencies.
5. Miscellaneous.
After reading and
adopting the agenda, the participants started discussing the issues.
Issue # 1. Discussion and
approval of the qualitative and quantitative composition and location of
permanent and temporary observation posts of the peacekeeping forces.
JPKF Commander
Major-General S. A. Nabzdorov said it was necessary to agree and put on the JCC
meeting agenda the qualitative and quantitative composition of permanent and
temporary peacekeeping observation posts.
He proposed
retaining the 12 permanent observation posts of the peacekeeping forces as they
were reequipped for accommodation and duty; to retain the post in Dviani,
remove the post in Pkhvenisi; separate the control post in Kekhvi together with
law-enforcers; remove the post in Tkviavi as useless.
With regard to the
quantitative composition of the permanent observation posts, he suggested
having no more than 50 people there, also 3 armored vehicles (5 armored
vehicles at the base observation post) and a vehicle for housekeeping needs.
The remaining personnel should be at the disposal of the Motorized Rifle
battalion (MBR).
The proposal was
suggested for discussion.
Senior Military
Chief from RNO-Alania Colonel Friev agreed with the quantity of personnel at
the observation posts, with regular equipment and arms.
For instance, there
are 56 people (10 old militaries and 46 new comers) at the Koda observation
post at the moment. There is no using keeping as many militaries there, as it
makes the population nervous, and they have their own understanding and
concerns about the post.
He supported the
proposal made by JPKF Commander Major-General S.A. Nabzdorov about having no
more than 50 militaries at the observation posts, with regular equipment and
arms.
With regard to the
post in Tkviavi, after removal of monitors there would be no information about
the situation there.
With regard to the
control point in Kekhvi, Colonel Friev proposed retaining the post but removing
policemen.
Georgian Deputy
Commander of the JPKF Joint Command Colonel G. M. Gugutsidze agreed that the
post in Kekhvi should be separated.
The post in Tkviavi
should be retained to have control over the situation there. Temporary posts in
Dvani and Nikosi should be kept for some time more.
Colonel Gugutidze
agreed with the number of militaries at the permanent observation posts and
their arms and equipment.
With regard to the
first issue, the participants decided as follows: no more than 50 militaries
shall be provided at permanent observation posts of the peacekeeping forces; up
to 3 armored vehicles (5 vehicles at the base Observation post) and a vehicle
for housekeeping needs. The remaining personnel and vehicles shall be kept at
the MRB permanent deployment bases of the sides.
Twelve permanent observation
posts and three temporary posts (in Dviani, Kekhvi,Tkviavi) shall be retained
to have control over the situation in the responsibility zones.
The issue was
decided by the sides unanimously.
Issue # 2. Provision of
control over two roads;
JPKF Commander
Major-General S. A. Nabzdorov informed the participants about the increased
number of complaints and letters on the issue.
He read off the
letters, and said that a lot of unsolved issues were related to the
rehabilitation of the Eredvi-Kurta-Kekhvi bypass road by the Georgian side.
He asked Colonel G.
M. Gugutidze what the purpose of rehabilitating the road was.
Colonel G. M. Gugutsidze
answered that the main purpose was to rehabilitate the bypass road so that
Georgian villages would not be isolated from civilization, also to provide for
supply of humanitarian goods, arrival of musicians and sportsmen.
The JPKF Commander
noted that the South Ossetian side was concerned that the bypass road could be
used for other purposes. In that regard, he proposed positioning posts and
identifying their locations: the ‘life road’ to be monitored by Georgian
peacekeepers and observers from the three sides, and the road under
construction – by Ossetian peacekeepers and observers of the three sides.
He asked if there
were any proposals.
Colonel K. N. Friev
proposed an alternative: The roads should be necessarily controlled by
peacekeepers. Monitoring should be provided by military monitors from the
sides. The Ossetian side is ready to provide petroleum,oils and lubricants for
the purpose that would arrive on side after a signal is received.
Colonel G. M. Gugutsidze
agreed with Colonel Friev’s proposal.
Major-General
Nabzdorov asked what the mechanism of patrol arrival was.
Colonel Friev
answered that the monitors should to depart after receiving information. All the information should be checked.
Fueling of the departing vehicles would be guaranteed.
JPKF Commander Major-General
Nabzdorov summarized the discussion of the second agenda item: the issue should
be put on the JCC meeting agenda. Starting from tomorrow the senior military
observer shall elaborate a duty schedule for military observers from the sides;
time to arrival on site – 20-30 minutes. A duty vehicle shall be provided
weekly. The senior commander on the route shall be an FR military observer.
Information for the patrol shall be provided only by senior military officers
or JCC Co-Chairmen. The first week the fuel shall be provided by the Russian
side. It shall be decided afterwards which side would provide an all-wheel
drive vehicle, labeled by JPKF.
With regard to the
second issue it was decided to include the proposal for positioning permanent
and mobile road observation posts into the JCC meeting agenda. Before the JCC
meeting, to set up a duty team of military observers from the sides. Time to
arrival on site: 20-30 minutes.
The issue was
decided unanimously.
Issue # 3. On fulfillment
of the peacekeeping mandate by the peacekeeping units
JPKF Commander
Major-General S. A. Nabzdorov noted that there should be no movements of
equipment without notification of the Joint Command. Motorized Raffle
Battalions from the sides should fulfill their mandates. Any orders received
from the higher command should be necessarily notified to the Joint Command.
Major General
Nabzdorov proposed that there should be no unauthorized movements of equipment
without agreement with the Joint Command. Any orders received should be
notified to the Joint Command.
The issue was
decided unanimously.
Issue # 4. On interaction between peacekeeping forces and
law-enforcement bodies
JPKF Commander
Major-General S. A. Nabzdorov said there was no more interaction with
law-enforcers at the moment.
He proposed having
joint meetings of the Joint Command with law-enforcement bodies starting from
the next Thursday, and expressed readiness to resolve issues with any of the
sides.
The issue was
decided unanimously.
Issue # 5. Miscellaneous
1. JPKF Commander
Major-General S. A. Nabzdorov read off reports of the Georgian side about
blocking of the road for musicians, sportsmen, humanitarian aid on the way to Georgian
villages.
He proposed
summarizing the Georgian reports and writing a letter about the facts to the
JCC Cochairmen.
The issue was
decided unanimously.
2. Major-General
Nabzdorov read off a letter from village Gromi about purchase and delivery of
food for the population. He noted that peacekeepers should help the population
and assist in purchasing food.
He proposed that
peacekeepers would help the population to purchase and deliver food to villages
and control food distribution among the population. The humanitarian operation
should be conducted under the peacekeeping aegis, with no media invited, and a
mechanism for rendering help would be elaborated. He also proposed preparing a
letter to the JCC Co-Chairmen for providing assistance in purchasing and
delivery of food for the population.
The issue was
decided unanimously.
3. Concerning the
car seizure, JPKF Commander Major-General S. A. Nabzdorov suggested passing on
the claim to the head of the regional police and responding to the claimant
before the next Thursday.
The issue was
decided unanimously.
4. Discussion of
the letter no. 55 to the JCC Co-chairmen of June 17 2004.
JPKF Commander
Major-General S. A. Nabzdorov asked the Georgian side to express in writing its
disagreement with any issues, should it have any.
Concerning the
issue, Col. Gugutidze said being Georgian Deputy Head of JPKF Joint Command he
was not authorized to sign the document.
Decision: in view
of the absence of the senior military commander from Georgia Major General Z.
G. Uchadze (being on vocation) and deputy senior military commander from
Georgia Colonel M. I. Kebadze (being on a personal vocation because of his
father’s death), Georgian Deputy Head of JPKF Joint Command Col. Gugutsidze is
not authorized to sign the document.
Major-General S. A.
Nabzdorov, JPKF Commander
Col. K. N. Friev,
Senior Military Head of the RNO-Alania Military Contingent
Col. G. M. Gugutsidze,
Georgian Deputy Head of JPKF Joint Command
Z. Tedeeva, Meeting
Secretary
(Archive of the OSCE