Statute (regulations) of the Coordinating Council
1.
General provisions
The
Coordinating Council (hereinafter referred to as “the Council”) is established
in accordance with the final statement on the results of the meeting held in
The
Council is established in order to implement the provisions of the final
statement.
2.
Composition of the council and organization of its work
The
Council shall meet under the chairmanship of the Special Representative of the
UN Secretary General for Georgia or his authorized representative.
The
Council shall consist of three representatives each from the Georgian and
Abkhaz sides. In the work of the Council also participate
the representatives of the United Nations, the
The
meetings of the Council shall be convened by the Special Representative of the
Secretary-General and shall be held as necessary but at least once in every two
months, alternately in
Each
side shall have the right to call for an extraordinary meeting of the Council,
which shall be convened by the Special Representative of the Secretary General
within three days or, promptly in case of urgent situation.
A
preliminary agenda for meetings shall be drafted by the Special Representative
of the Secretary General in accordance with the provisions of the final
statement and previous decisions of the Council and shall be delivered to the
participants no later than 10 days prior to the convening of the meeting.
Each
side shall have the right to put forward proposals on amendments or additions
to the agenda, which shall be submitted to the Special Representative of the
Secretary General no later than five days prior to the meeting. The Special
Representative of the Secretary-General shall hold consultations on such
matters before the convening of the meeting.
The
other participants in the Council may also put forward proposals concerning the
agenda, which shall be considered by the Special Representative of the
Secretary-General and agreed
by the Parties.
Decisions
of the Council shall be taken on the basis of consensus between the Parties. In
adopting decisions concerning the role and responsibility of the United Nations
and the
In
case of failure to reach consensus when adopting decisions, the sides may state
their position in the protocol of the meeting.
The
working language of the meetings is Russian.
The
office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General serves as the
secretariat of the Council.
3.
Working groups
Working
groups are the executive bodies of the Coordination Council. Working groups
shall consist of two representatives each from the Georgian and Abkhaz sides.
The meetings of the working groups shall be chaired by the Special
Representative of the Secretary General or his authorized representative, with
the participation of representatives of the Russian Federation, as facilitator, the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Group of Friends of
the Secretary General pursuant to the terms set out in paragraph 3 of the final
statement. Meetings of the working groups shall be convened by the Special
Representative of the Secretary General. At the request of the sides, the
experts may attend the meetings.
The
working groups shall carry out activities in the following fields:
Working
Group I – issues related to the firm non-resumption of hostilities and to
security problems;
Working
Group II – refugees and internally displaced persons;
Working
Group III – economic and social problems.
4.
Group of experts
Certain
groups of experts may be established by the Council, the working groups or the
Special Representative of the Secretary-General in order to examine specific
aspects of issues relating to a comprehensive settlement of the conflict, if
such questions arise.
5.
Competencies of the Council
a)
Issues related to the firm non-resumption of hostilities and to security
problems. Consideration of breach of the Agreement on a
Cease-fire and Separation of Forces of
Consideration of questions relating to the effective implementation of
the commitments made by the sides.
Introduction
of effective measures to put an end to any activities conducted by illegal
armed formations, terrorist or subversive groups or individuals, including
individuals who penetrate into the conflict zone, as well as any activities
that may destabilize the peace process or lead to a resumption of hostilities.
Assistance in mine clearance.
Working
Group I shall investigate violation of the cease-fire regime, and terrorist or
subversive activities, and shall draft proposals and recommendations on matters
within its competence. Working Group I shall meet as necessary but at least
once a week.
b)
Refugees and internally displaced persons
In
accordance with the concluding statement of the
Working
Group II shall deal with the drafting of appropriate recommendations.
c)
Economic and social problems
Consideration of questions of mutual interest to the sides (energy,
transport, communications, environment).
Consideration of proposals to remove impediments to the normal economic
and social development.
Working
Group III shall draft proposals and recommendations on the establishment of
effective cooperation between the sides in agreed fields.
(Abkhaz Issue in Official Documents, Legislative and
Executive organs of Georgia, International Organizations, 1989-1999, part II,
1995-1999; authors: Vakhtang Kholbaia, Teimuraz Chakhrakia, Rafiel Gelantia,
David Latsuzbaia, Tb., 2000, p. 183-185/in Georgan)