In progress at UNHQ

SG/SM/6125

DEPUTY SPECIAL ENVOY FOR GEORGIA OPENS HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE IN SUKHUMI, ABKHAZIA, GEORGIA

10 December 1996


Press Release
SG/SM/6125
HR/4317


DEPUTY SPECIAL ENVOY FOR GEORGIA OPENS HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE IN SUKHUMI, ABKHAZIA, GEORGIA

19961210 The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary- General Boutros Boutros-Ghali:

In accordance with Security Council resolution 1077 (1996), Liviu Bota, head of mission of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) and Deputy Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Georgia, opened the human rights office in Sukhumi, Abkhazia, Georgia, today. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) head of mission to Georgia, the heads of diplomatic missions of the "Friends of the Secretary-General" on Georgia (France, Germany, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and United States) in Georgia, and Abkhaz leader Ardzinba were also present. The office is part of the implementation mechanism of a programme for the protection and promotion of human rights in Abkhazia, Georgia. The programme is carried out by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in cooperation with the OSCE and the Government of Georgia.

The objectives of the programme are to protect the human rights of the population of Abkhazia, Georgia, to contribute to a safe and dignified return of refugees and internally displaced persons through improvement of the human rights situation, and to report on human rights developments in conformity with United Nations practices.

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For information media. Not an official record.