FINAL
STATEMENT on the results of the resumed meeting between the
Georgian and Abkhaz sides held in
1. The resumed meeting between the Georgian and
Abkhaz sides was held in Geneva from 17 to 19 November 1997 under the auspices
of the United Nations with the participation of representatives of the Russian
Federation acting as facilitator, the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE), and the states of the Group of Friends under the Secretary
General in 1994 consisting of France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United
Kingdom and the United States of America, acting as observers.
2. An exchange of views on the following issues
took place during the meeting:
- Review of the state of the negotiations on the
major aspects of a comprehensive settlement of the conflict and identification
of areas where concrete political progress is possible to be made;
- Discussion of issues related to the return of
the refugees and displaced persons;
- Intensification of efforts in the economic,
humanitarian and social areas;
- Elaboration of a programme of future activities
and mechanisms for their implementation.
Representatives of the Office of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Department of Humanitarian
Affairs also took part in discussing issues.
3. At the first part of the meeting (23 – 25 July 1997), the issue was
raised on the status of the countries of the Friends of the Secretary General
on
4. The parties welcomed the proposals of the
Secretary-General of the United Nations to strengthen the involvement of the
United Nations in the peacemaking process aimed at achieving a comprehensive
political settlement.
5. The sides welcome the positive results of the
meeting between Mr. Shevardnadze and Mr. Ardzinba in
6. It was noted that despite the vigorous efforts
applied in order to intensify the peace process, the sought progress has not
been made on the key issues of the settlement.
7. The sides reaffirmed their commitment made in
the Tbilisi Statement of
8. The meeting took note of the contribution made
by the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) and the Collective
Peacekeeping Forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States (the CIS
peacekeeping force) in stabilizing the situation in the conflict zone and noted
the significant strengthening of cooperation between UNOMIG and the CIS
peacekeeping force.
9. The Special Representative of the Secretary
General for Georgia, representatives of the OSCE and States members of the
Group of Friends of the Secretary-General call on the sides and the Russian
Federation to support the continuation of the peacekeeping operation of the CIS
peacekeeping force in order to secure favourable and peaceful conditions for a
comprehensive settlement of the conflict.
10. The parties condemn acts of violence by armed
groups and the placement of mines, which has resulted in a deterioration of
security conditions for the local population, returning refugees and displaced
persons, the UNOMIG personnel and the CIS peacekeepers, and other international
personnel working in Abkhazia.
11. The parties will take all necessary and
effective measures to halt any activity by illegal armed formations, terrorist
and subversive groups and individuals, including those penetrating Abkhaz
territory from outside, which could destabilize the peace process and brings a
resumption of hostilities.
12. The parties have agreed that progress towards
strengthening confidence, mutual understanding and cooperation between them
would be achieved through direct bilateral contacts and other measures. They
believe that the speediest possible agreement on and signature of the relevant
documents on a settlement of the conflict would be a real step towards bringing
about a comprehensive political settlement of the conflict. In this respect,
particular attention was given to the issue of the return of refugees and
displaced persons to their place of permanent residence. At the same time, the
stress was placed on the need to resume the process of voluntary return of
refugees and displaced persons and to create safe living conditions for them.
13. The sides agreed on the need to take measures
to convene in the near future a joint/bilateral commission to resolve any
practical issues that may arise.
14. The parties agreed to refrain from
disseminating hostile information about each other and to take measures to
promote an atmosphere of mutual trust and understanding. The sides have agreed
to conduct exchange visits of parliamentarians, academics, intellectuals,
journalists and other representatives of society in order to help achieve this
task.
15. The programme of action and the mechanism for
its implementation are as follows:
a) the parties shall establish a Coordinating Council and, within its
framework, working groups on the following areas:
- issues related to the
firm non-resumption of hostilities and security problems;
- refugees and internally
displaced persons;
- economic and social
problems;
b) the Coordinating Council and the working groups
will meet under the chairmanship of the Special Representative of the Secretary
General of the United Nations or by his authorized representatives, with the
participation of representatives of the Russian Federation as facilitator,
representatives of the OSCE, and with the Group of Friends of the Secretary
General;
c) separate groups of
experts may be established to study specific aspects of issues relating to the
comprehensive settlement of the conflict as and when such issues arise;
d) the Special
Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall convene the
Coordinating Council within the first week of December 1997. The working groups
shall start their work in December 1997. The working group on issues relating
to the firm non-resumption of hostilities and security problems shall meet in a
regular basis, at least once a week.
16. Meetings of the sides will be held
periodically to consider the progress of the negotiations on the major aspects
of the comprehensive settlement of the conflict. These meetings will be chaired
by the Special Representative of the Secretary General. They will take place
with the participation of the
(Newspaper “Svobodnaia Gruzia”, # 215, 20 November 1997)