Record of the Second Session of Working Group I, of the Coordinating Council of the Georgian and Abkhaz Parties, on issues related to the lasting non resumption of hostilities and to security problems, held in Tbilisi on 22 January 1998

The Second session of the Working Group I on issues related to the lasting non-resumption of hostilities and security problems, an executive body of the Coordinating Council, took place in Tbilisi on 22 January 1998 under the auspices of the United Nations and the Chairmanship of the Chief Military Observer of UNOMIG, Maj. Gen. M. Harun-Ar-Rashid. The Session took up the following points for discussion:

a) Observance by the parties of the “Agreement on a ceasefire and Separation of Forces” of 14 May 1994;

b) Incidents involving mines, booby traps and other explosives, as well as diversionary and terrorist activities in the zone of conflict;

c) The strengthening of security in the zone of conflict. In the Session the following were represented:

The Georgian Party, represented by the Head of WGI delegation Mr. Georgi Alexidze.
The Abkhaz Party, represented by the Head of WGI delegation Mr. Givi Agrba.
The Russian Federation as facilitator, represented by Maj. Gen. Sergei Korobko.
The organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, represented by
The states belonging to the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General, represented by

Opening the Session, the Chairman of Working Group I, Maj. Gen. M. Harun-Ar-Rasbid, the Chief Military Observer of UNOMIG welcomed the Heads of Delegations from Georgia and Abkhazia and the representatives of the Russian Federation, the OSCE and the states belonging to the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General. During the opening remarks the Chairman gave his impression on the listed agenda points. After the opening remarks by the Chairman, the representative of the Russian Federation, Maj. Gen. Korobko gave his impression on the Agenda points. Thereafter, the Head of the Georgian delegation Mr. Georgi Aleksidze took the floor and made a statement. Thereafter, the Head of the Abkhaz delegation, Mr. Givi Argba took the floor and made a statement. Thereafter, the Session openly discussed the agenda points. After deliberation the Session made the following recommendations:

1. On agenda point 1 the parties agreed to maintain status quo. On the issue of the outer boundary of the RWZ the parties agreed to put up respective proposals in the future sessions of the Working Group I.
2. On the second and third agenda points which are correlated, both parties agreed to cooperate with each other in eliminating the terrorist/banditry activities. It was further agreed that the following actions would be taken by both parties with immediate effect: a) establish contact points at the level of WGI Heads of Delegations. b) exchange relevant information regarding the terrorists/bandits as and when known to either party through the contact points. c) on receipt of information or complaint by either party, a joint investigation team will be formed under the chairmanship of the UN with representatives from Georgia, Abkhazia and the CISPKF. The investigation team will establish which party/parties are responsible for the sabotage/terrorist activity. d) the parties also agreed, in future Sessions, to put forward their respective proposals regarding preventive measures to be taken to stop terrorist/bandit activities.
3. The parties also agreed to continue the dialogue and to develop a Plan of Action for effective control of terrorist/bandit activity in the zone of conflict.
4. The Session also decided to meet again in first half of February 1998. The Session concluded after word of thanks by the Chairman to all the participants. Draft Communiqué On Thursday, 22 January 1998, the second session of the Coordinating Council’s Working Group III met in Tbilisi, Georgia, at the headquarters of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG), under the auspices of the United Nations and the Chairmanship of the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Marco Borsotti. The meeting was attended by Mr. Temur Mosiashvili, representing the Georgian Delegation Ms. Rita Lolua, representing the Abkhaz Delegation Mr. Victor Khashba, also representing the Abkhaz Delegation Mr. Valeriy Kushpel, representing the Russian Federation Ms. Ina Lepel, representing the Federal Republic of Germany Mr. Bernard Semeria, representing Republic of France Mr. Michael Hancock, representing the United Kingdom Ms. Paula Feeney, representing the United States of America Ms. Molly O’Neal, also representing the United States of America Mr. Michael Libal, representing the OSCE At the meeting, a proposal was fielded by the Chairman, for a United Nations assessment mission in Abkhazia to define social and economic needs, and to identify programmes and projects to address those needs. After discussion, the Chairman’s proposal for a Terms of Reference for the United Nations mission, was agreed to by Working Group III with some changes and clarifications. The United Nations Needs Assessment mission will take place in the second half of February. It will carry out its functions in an integrated manner that will involve officials from various United Nations Agencies, representatives of the World Bank, and members of international organizations. The Mission shall prepare a report that will be reviewed at the next session of Working Group III before being forwarded to the Coordinating Council. Under the auspices of the United Nations and within the framework of activities of the Coordinating Council’s Working group III established on the basis of the Concluding Statement of the outcome of the meeting between the Georgian and Abkhaz parties, a mission will assess and identify short and medium term needs in the economic and social spheres in the areas agreed hereunder:

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• Physical infrastructure
• De-mining
• Transport (Roads and bridges repair and reconstruction); identification of medium and long term needs including all transport sectors
• Power supply
• Telecommunication
• Water Supply and Sanitation
• Social Infrastructure
• Primary Health Care with special emphasis on preventive medicine
• Basic Education (obligatory school system)
• Housing and Shelter
• Food Supply to vulnerable population
• Post Conflict Trauma Counselling
• Confidence Building Initiatives for various groups of population Assistance on restoration of veterinary and sanitation services
• Private Sector Activities
• Development of Agricultural Activities
• Restoration of livestock
• Establishment of Micro Credit Facilities for Small and Medium Enterprises
• Public Sector Capacity Building
• Issues of/related to rational and effective local Administration

Expected Outputs

2. The team would prepare a comprehensive report outlining the needs in the different sectors, broken down into immediate rehabilitation needs and more medium-term development needs. An estimate of aggregate resources necessary for both should be provided. The report should, moreover, include a portfolio of project profiles which can be presented to donors for funding. To the extent possible, the projects should be conceived as components of more comprehensive programmes and, therefore, they should be inter-linked. The final draft of the report should be completed for revision by the parties no later than two weeks after the end of field activities of the assessment mission and shall be written in English. Translation of the report in other languages will be completed by the UNOP, once its text and proposals will be finally cleared by the SRSG.

The Composition of the Team

3. Participation in the needs assessment mission should be open to the relevant agencies of the United Nations, including UNICEF, WHO, ITU, ILO, UNIDO, UNESCO and FAO. Other bilateral and multi-lateral organizations will also be invited to participate, in particular representatives indicated by the World Bank. However, the total number of participants should be limited to secure effective co-ordination. The mission will be lead by a team-leader who will be designated by UNDP. The team leader should be a high ranking present or ex-UN official who has experience in leading similar kinds of missions. The team leader will be assisted by an experienced staff responsible who will act as executive secretary to the team and who will assist the team leader in the preparation of the final report based on the finding and recommendation elaborated by the other members of the mission.

Time frame for the Assessment Mission

4. Subject to the agreement of the parties, the mission should assemble in Tbilisi on 16 February 1998 and proceed to Abkhazia the following day, in order to complete its field operations within the following two weeks. The Team Leader, with the assistance of the Executive Secretary of the team, should then complete the preparation of the final draft of the mission report within the following week, thus completing the activities of the mission not later than March 7, 1998.

22 January 1998

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