The Istanbul Meeting of the Georgian and Abkhaz
Sides on Confidence-Building Measures took place from 7 to
The Minister for Foreign Affairs of the
Representatives of the
The Meeting was convened on the basis of the
Concluding Statement of the First Geneva Meeting of the Georgian and Abkhaz
Sides, held from 17 to
The Meeting focused primarily on the question of
the return of refugees and displaced persons, and also on economic problems.
The
sides agreed as follows:
1. Within one week to
hold a special meeting of plenipotentiary representatives to address the issue
of the exchange of hostages and prisoners.
2. To support and cooperate with the Chief
Military Observer of the UNOMIG in conducting joint investigation of incidents
which may endanger stability in the conflict zone.
3. To revive the activities of the working groups
within the framework of the Coordinating Council.
a) To convene within one week Working Group I. It
will consider measures to implement the agreements achieved by the sides
regarding ensuring security along the entire line of the separation of forces.
b) To convene within one week Working Group II for
the consideration and agreement of urgent measures regarding the issue of the
return of refugees and displaced persons, and the establishment of conditions
for their safety. The Working Group will also hear information from the parties
regarding the situation in the Gali Region.
c) To convene within one week Working Group III.
It will address the question of interaction with the Standing Working Group of
the Joint Bilateral Coordination Commission for Practical Questions. This
Standing Working Group will promote the establishment of economic ties between
economic entities and draw up specific proposals and submit them for discussion
by the Coordination Commission. It will also address projects which serve the
interests of the Georgian and Abkhaz sides, including those designed to ensure
uninterrupted functioning of the Inguri dam and power plant, and also the
restoration of films with assistance of UNDP and other international and
national organizations.
Financing of this Working Group will be
implemented with support from UNDP.
4. To insure implementation of the commitment of
the sides, provided for by the Protocol of
5. To develop cooperation at the local level
Istanbul Meeting participants will continue contacts to study possibilities for
specific types of cooperation in various areas, in particular in the economic
area.
6. To organize meetings of political and public
figures of the sides.
7. To develop and establish mechanisms for the
regular exchange of information, including, inter alia:
a) To exchange information between representatives
of the mass media of the sides, including the exchange of television groups to
create reports, including interviews with high-level individuals. These
materials will be broadcast by the respective local television stations.
b) The Abkhaz side will be able to receive 300
copies of each issue of Svobodnaia Gruzia and the Georgian side will receive an
equal number of copies of Respublica Abkhazia, on the basis of funding and
logistical support from the United Nations.
c) Transmission from each side to the other of
their respective press service reports will be facilitated by the United
Nations.
d) To hold a meeting of Georgian and Abkhaz
journalists in
e) To request the BBC to sponsor training courses
for Georgian and Abkhaz journalists in
8. The law-enforcement organs of the two sides
will exchange available information on any preparations for illegal acts and
will consult on measures to be taken jointly to prevent them. Direct
communication links should be utilized for this purpose.
9. Representatives of the respective Commissions
for Missing-in-Action cases of the two sides will meet within one month, to
review the situation. They will meet regularly within the framework of the
Coordinating Council.
Implementation of the above-agreed measures will
be carried out within the framework of the Coordinating Council and through
bilateral contacts. The United Nations will provide logistical support as
necessary, in the implementation of these measures.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General
will report to the Secretary-General of the UN, who will then inform the
Security Council on the outcome of this Meeting.
The sides and all participants of this Meeting
expressed to the government of
The participants of the Meeting took note of the
information concerning the invitation from the government of
V.
Lordkipanidze, S. Bagapsh, L. Bota
7-9
June 1999,