Concluding statement on the outcome of the resumed meeting between the Georgian and Abkhaz parties held in Geneva from 17 to 19 November 1997

1. The resumed meeting between the Georgian and Abkhaz parties was held inGeneva from 17 to 19 November 1997 under the auspices of the United Nationswith the participation of representatives of the Russian Federation actingas facilitator, the organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe(OSCE), and the states belonging to the Group of Friends created by theSecretary-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 points took place during the meeting:• Review of the state of the negotiations on the main aspects of acomprehensive settlement of the conflict and identification of areas whereconcrete political progress could be made;• Consideration of questions of the return of the refugees and displacedpersons;• Intensification of efforts in the economic, humanitarian and socialareas;• Elaboration of a programme of future activities and mechanisms fortheir implementation.Representatives of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner forRefugees and the Department of Humanitarian Affairs also took part in discussingissues of interest to them.
3. At the first part of the meeting (23 – 25 July 1997), the questionwas raised of the status of the countries of the Friends of the Secretary-Generalon Georgia. After extensive consultations, a decision was taken that thestatus of this Group of Friends of the Secretary-General of the United Nationsshould be analogous to the status of the other groups of friends of theSecretary-General. They may participate in meetings and make statementsand proposals on various aspects of the peace process, including a politicalsettlement. They are not parties to the negotiations and shall not be invitedto sign documents agreed upon during the negotiations by the parties.
4. The parties welcomed the proposals of the Secretary-General of the UnitedNations to strengthen the involvement of the United Nations in the peacemakingprocess aimed at achieving a comprehensive political settlement.
5. The parties welcome the positive outcome of the meeting between Mr. Shevardnadzeand Mr. Ardzinba in Tbilisi on 14 and 15 August 1997, organized with theassistance of the Russian Federation as facilitator.
6. It was noted that as of now, despite strenuous efforts applied in orderto intensify the peace process, sought for progress has not been made onthe pivotal issues of the settlement.
7. The parties reaffirmed their commitment made in the Tbilisi statementof 14 August 1997 to the non-use of force or threat of the use of forceagainst one another. Any contentious issue shall be settled by the partiesthrough exclusively peaceful means.
8. The meeting took note of the contribution made by the United NationsObserver Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) and the Collective Peacekeeping Forcesof the Commonwealth of Independent States (“the CIS peacekeeping force”)in stabilizing the situation in the conflict zone and noted the significantstrengthening of cooperation between UNOMIG and the CIS peacekeeping force.
9. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Georgia, representativesof the OSCE and States members of the Group of Friends of the Secretary-Generalcall on the parties and the Russian Federation to support the continuationof the peacekeeping operation of the CIS peacekeeping force in order tosecure favourable and peaceful conditions for a comprehensive settlementof the conflict.
10. The parties condemn acts of violence by armed groups and the placementof mines, which has resulted in a deterioration of safety conditions forthe local population, returning refugees and displaced persons, UNOMIG personneland CIS peacekeepers, and other international personnel working in Abkhazia.
11. The parties will take all necessary and effective measures to halt anyactivity by illegal armed formations, terrorist and subversive groups andindividuals, including those penetrating Abkhaz territory from outside,which could destabilize the peace process and precipitate a resumption ofhostilities.
12. The parties have agreed that progress towards strengthening trust, mutualunderstanding and cooperation between them could be achieved through directbilateral contacts and other means. They believe that the speediest possibleagreement on and signature of the relevant documents on a settlement ofthe conflict would be a real step towards bringing about a comprehensivepolitical settlement of the conflict. In this respect, particular attentionwas given to the issue of the return of refugees and displaced persons totheir place of permanent residence. At the same time, emphasis was placedon the need to resume the process of voluntary return of refugees and displacedpersons and to create safe living conditions for them.
13. The parties agreed on the need to take measures to convene in the nearfuture a joint/bilateral commission to resolve any practical issues thatmay arise.
14. The parties agreed to refrain from disseminating hostile propaganda abouteach other and to take measures to promote an atmosphere of mutual trustand understanding. The parties have agreed to institute exchange visitsby parliamentarians, academics, intellectuals, journalists and other representativesof society in order to help achieve this objective.
15. The programme of action and the mechanism for its implementation are asfollows:(a) the parties shall establish a Coordinating Council and, within its framework,working groups on the following areas:• issues related to the lasting non-resumption of hostilities and securityproblems;• refugees and internally displaced persons;• economic and social problems;(b) the Coordinating Council and the working groups will meet under thechairmanship of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of theUnited Nations or by his authorized representatives, with the participationof representatives of the Russian Federation as facilitator, representativesof OSCE, and with the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General;(c) separate groups of experts may be established to study specific aspectsof issues relating to the comprehensive settlement of the conflict as andwhen such issues arise;(d) the Coordinating Council shall be convened by the Special Representativeof the Secretary-General of the United Nations during the first week ofDecember 1997. The working groups shall start their work in December 1997.The working group on issues relating to the lasting non-resumption of hostilitiesand security problems will meet frequently, at least once a week.
16. Meetings of the sides will be held periodically to consider the progressof the negotiations on the main aspects of the comprehensive settlementof the conflict. These meetings will be chaired by the Special Representativeof the Secretary-General. They will take place with the participation ofthe Russian Federation in its capacity as facilitator, with the OSCE, andthe Group of Friends of the Secretary-General under the conditions definedin paragraph 3 above.

(Signed) L. Bota

Top | Georgia-Abkhazia | Contents | Key texts