SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE OF OBSERVER MISSION IN GEORGIA FOR SIX MONTHS, UNTIL 31 JANUARY 1998

31 July 1997

Press Release
SC/6405

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE OF OBSERVER MISSION IN GEORGIA FOR SIX MONTHS, UNTIL 31 JANUARY 1998

19970731 Resolution 1124, Adopted Unanimously, Urges Continuation Of Direct Dialogue among Parties to Conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia

Reiterating its deep concern at the continued deadlock in achieving a comprehensive settlement of the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia, the Security Council this afternoon extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) until 31 January 1998. The decision is subject to further review if there are changes in the mandate of the peace-keeping force of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in the region.

Through its unanimous adoption of resolution 1124 (1997), the Council reaffirmed its commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, within its internationally recognized borders, and to the need to define the status of Abkhazia in strict accordance with those principles. It underlined the unacceptability of any action by the Abkhaz leadership in contravention of those principles.

The Council called on the parties to achieve substantive progress without further delay and to cooperate fully with the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Special Representative, with the assistance of the Russian Federation as facilitator. It welcomed those efforts at achieving a political settlement of the conflict, including on the political status of Abkhazia within the State of Georgia, and stressed that primary responsibility for reinvigorating the peace process rests with the parties themselves.

It welcomed the efforts of the Russian Federation as facilitator, particularly during the June 1997 round of talks between the parties in Moscow, as well as the continuation of direct dialogue between them. It supported the intention of the Secretary-General's Special Representative to resume their meeting in September and called on the Abkhaz side in particular to engage constructively in it. It also welcomed the holding of a high-level meeting on the conflict in Geneva, under the aegis of the United Nations, to map out areas where concrete political progress might be made.

The Council also asked the Secretary-General to consider means of providing technical and financial assistance for reconstruction of the economy of Abkhazia, Georgia, following the successful outcome of the political negotiations.

Reaffirming the rights of all refugees and displaced persons to return to their homes in secure conditions, the Council condemned the continued obstruction of that return and stressed the unacceptability of any linkage of such return with the question of the political status of Abkhazia, Georgia. It also reaffirmed the unacceptability of the demographic changes resulting from the conflict, and reiterated its condemnation of killings, particularly those ethnically motivated, and other ethnically related acts of violence.

The Council also repeated its demand that the Abkhaz side accelerate significantly the process of the voluntary return of refugees and displaced persons without delay or preconditions, in particular by accepting a timetable based on one proposed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). It further demanded that the Abkhaz side guarantee the safety of spontaneous returnees already in the area and regularize their status in cooperation with the UNHCR, in particular in the Gali region.

Condemning the continued laying of mines in the Gali region, the Council called upon the parties to act to prevent mine-laying and intensified activities by armed groups. It also called upon them to cooperate fully with UNOMIG and the CIS peace-keeping force to ensure the safety and freedom of movement of all international personnel, including those from humanitarian organizations. It urged the Secretary-General to continue to take the necessary steps in response to the threat posed by the laying of mines.

The Council welcomed the efforts by United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations to address the urgent needs of those suffering most from the consequences of the conflict, particularly displaced person, and encouraged further contributions to that end. It also called upon the parties to ensure full implementation of the 1994 Moscow Agreement on a cease-fire and separation of forces, again encouraging States to contribute to the voluntary fund in support of its implementation, and/or for humanitarian purposes.

The Secretary-General was asked to keep the Council regularly informed, and to report after three months on the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia, including on the operations of UNOMIG. The Council expressed its intention to conduct a thorough review of the operation at the end of its current mandate. It also reiterated its full support for the implementation of a concrete programme to protect and promote human rights in Abkhazia, Georgia.

The meeting, which was called to order at 12:26 p.m., was adjourned at 12:29 p.m.

Resolution Adopted

The text of resolution 1124 (1997) is as follows:

"The Security Council,

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"Reaffirming all its relevant resolutions, in particular resolution 1096 (1997) of 30 January 1997, and recalling the statement of its President of 8 May 1997,

"Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 18 July 1997 (S/1997/558 and Add.1),

"Reiterating its full support for the more active role for the United Nations, with the assistance of the Russian Federation as facilitator, aimed at achieving a comprehensive political settlement,

"Acknowledging the efforts in support of the peace process of the Secretary-General and his Special Representative, with the assistance of the Russian Federation as facilitator, as well as the group of Friends of the Secretary-General on Georgia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) as mentioned in the report,

"Welcoming in this context the indication given in the report that prospects for progress in the peace process have improved, noting with deep concern the continued failure by the parties to resolve their differences, and underlining the necessity for the parties to intensify without delay their efforts to achieve an early and comprehensive political settlement of the conflict, including on the political status of Abkhazia within the State of Georgia, which fully respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia,

"Reaffirming the necessity for the parties strictly to respect human rights, expressing its support for the efforts of the Secretary-General to find ways to improve their observance as an integral part of the work towards a comprehensive political settlement, and welcoming developments in the work of the United Nations Human Rights Office in Abkhazia, Georgia,

"Commending the contribution that the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) and the Collective Peace-keeping Forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS peace-keeping force) have made in stabilizing the situation in the zone of conflict, noting that the cooperation between UNOMIG and the CIS peace-keeping force is good and has continued to develop, and stressing the importance of continued close cooperation and coordination between them in the performance of their respective mandates,

"Deeply concerned at the continuing unstable and tense security conditions in the Gali region, characterized by acts of violence by armed groups, by armed robbery, and other common crime and, most seriously, by the laying of mines, including new types of mines, and deeply concerned also at the resulting lack of safety and security for the local populations, for the refugees and displaced persons returning to the region and for the personnel of UNOMIG and of the CIS peace-keeping force,

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"Reminding the parties that the ability of the international community to assist them depends on their political will to resolve the conflict through dialogue and mutual accommodation, as well as their full cooperation with UNOMIG and the CIS peace-keeping force, including the fulfilment of their obligations regarding the safety and freedom of movement of international personnel,

"Taking note of the decision taken by the Council of Heads of State of the CIS of 28 March 1997 (S/1997/268, annex) to expand the mandate of the CIS peace-keeping force in the conflict zone in Abkhazia, Georgia, and to extend it until 31 July 1997, but noting with concern the uncertainty surrounding its extension beyond that date,

"1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General of 18 July 1997;

"2. Reiterates its deep concern at the continued deadlock in achieving a comprehensive settlement of the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia;

"3. Reaffirms its commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, within its internationally recognized borders, and to the necessity of defining the status of Abkhazia in strict accordance with these principles, and underlines the unacceptability of any action by the Abkhaz leadership in contravention of these principles;

"4. Welcomes the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Special Representative aimed at achieving a comprehensive political settlement of the conflict, including on the political status of Abkhazia within the State of Georgia, respecting fully the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, and the efforts undertaken by the Russian Federation in its capacity as facilitator, in particular during the last round of talks between the parties held in Moscow in June 1997, to continue to intensify the search for a peaceful settlement of the conflict;

"5. Reaffirms its support for the more active role for the United Nations in the peace process, encourages the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to that end, with the assistance of the Russian Federation as facilitator, and with the support of the group of Friends of the Secretary- General on Georgia and the OSCE, and welcomes in this context the holding of a high-level meeting on the conflict in Geneva under the aegis of the United Nations to map out the areas where concrete political progress could be made;

"6. Notes the Addendum to the Report of the Secretary-General, supports the intention of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to resume the adjourned meeting in September, and calls upon in particular the Abkhaz side to engage constructively at this resumed meeting;

"7. Stresses that the primary responsibility for reinvigorating the peace process rests upon the parties themselves, calls upon them to achieve

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substantive progress without further delay towards a comprehensive political settlement, and further calls upon them to cooperate fully with the efforts undertaken by the Secretary-General and his Special Representative, with the assistance of the Russian Federation as facilitator;

"8. Welcomes the continuation of direct dialogue between the parties, calls upon them to intensify the search for a peaceful solution by further expanding their contacts, requests the Secretary-General to make available all appropriate support if so requested by the parties, and recalls the appeal of the Secretary-General to both parties to pursue the discussions on the implementation of the above-mentioned decisions of 28 March 1997 adopted by the Council of Heads of State of the CIS;

"9. Recalls the conclusions of the Lisbon summit of the OSCE (S/1997/57, annex) regarding the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia, and reaffirms the unacceptability of the demographic changes resulting from the conflict;

"10. Reiterates its condemnation of killing, particularly those ethnically motivated, and other ethnically related acts of violence;

"11. Reaffirms the right of all refugees and displaced persons affected by the conflict to return to their homes in secure conditions in accordance with international law and as set out in the Quadripartite Agreement of 4 April 1994 on voluntary return of refugees and displaced persons (S/1994/397, annex II), condemns the continued obstruction of that return, and stresses the unacceptability of any linkage of the return of refugees and displaced persons with the question of the political status of Abkhazia, Georgia;

"12. Reiterates its demand that the Abkhaz side accelerate significantly the process of voluntary return of refugees and displaced persons without delay or preconditions, in particular by accepting a timetable on the basis of that proposed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and further demands that it guarantee the safety of spontaneous returnees already in the area and regularize their status in cooperation with UNHCR and in accordance with the Quadripartite Agreement, in particular in the Gali region;

"13. Calls upon the parties to ensure the full implementation of the Moscow Agreement of 14 May 1994 on a Cease-fire and Separation of Forces (S/1994/583, annex I);

"14. Condemns the continued laying of mines, including new types of mines, in the Gali region, which has already caused several deaths and injuries among the civilian population and the peace-keepers and observers of the international community, and calls upon the parties to take all measures in their power to prevent mine-laying and intensified activities by armed groups and to cooperate fully with UNOMIG and the CIS peace-keeping force in

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order to honour their commitments to ensure the safety and the freedom of movement of all personnel of the United Nations, the CIS peace-keeping force and international humanitarian organizations;

"15. Urges the Secretary-General to continue to take the necessary steps in response to the threat posed by the laying of mines in order to improve security conditions so as to minimize the danger to UNOMIG personnel and to create conditions for the effective performance of its mandate;

"16. Decides to extend the mandate of UNOMIG for a new period terminating on 31 January 1998 subject to a review by the Council of the mandate of UNOMIG in the event of any changes that may be made in the mandate or in the presence of the CIS peace-keeping force, and welcomes the intension of the Secretary-General, as mentioned in his report, to keep the Council informed of developments in this regard;

"17. Reiterates its full support for the implementation of a concrete programme for the protection and promotion of human rights in Abkhazia, Georgia;

"18. Welcomes the continued efforts by the United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations to address the urgent needs of those suffering most from the consequences of the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia, in particular internally displaced personnel, encourages further contributions to that end, and reiterates its encouragement to States to contribute to the voluntary fund in support of the implementation of the Moscow Agreement and/or for humanitarian aspects, including demining, as specified by donors;

"19. Requests the Secretary-General to consider the means of providing technical and financial assistance aimed at the reconstruction of the economy of Abkhazia, Georgia, following the successful outcome of the political negotiations;

"20. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to keep the Council regularly informed, to report after three months from the date of the adoption of this resolution on the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia, including on the operations of UNOMIG, and to provide recommendations in that report on the nature of the United Nations presence, and, in this context, expresses its intention to conduct a thorough review of the operation at the end of its current mandate;

"21. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter."

Report of Secretary-General

In considering the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia, the Council had before it a report of the Secretary-General (documents S/1997/558 and Add.1)

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in which he recommends that the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) be extended for a further six months, until 31 January 1998. That recommendation is made in the light of progress in the Georgian/Abkhaz peace process and the positive effects the mission continues to have on the situation. However, since the mandate of the peace-keeping force of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) will expire on 31 July, the extension of UNOMIG's mandate should be subject to early review by the Council if the CIS governments decide to change the mandate of that force.

Prospects for progress in the peace process have improved, the Secretary-General said. The Russian Federation's efforts to resolve the situation and his declared commitment to strengthen United Nations involvement in that process have led to some initiatives by the parties to the conflict. Both sides have begun to show more flexibility and, despite some pronouncements to the contrary, there seems to be a serious effort towards compromise. Key issues which remain unresolved include the future political status of Abkhazia and the return of refugees and internally displaced persons.

According to the report, President Eduard Shevardnadze of Georgia, supported by Parliament and other Georgian leaders, has said that the presence of the CIS peace-keeping force in the conflict zone would not be possible after its mandate expires on 31 July, unless CIS decisions on the expansion of the security zone and the repatriation of refugees and internally displaced persons were implemented. However, the leaders emphasized that the Georgian side would not resume hostilities, even if the CIS force was withdrawn.

The report states that UNOMIG continues to operate in the restricted weapons zones of the Zugdidi and Gali sectors and in the Kodori Valley. The arrival of mine-protected and other vehicles and the resumed resurfacing of main roads in the Gali sector have proven effective. While some areas are still dangerous, the observers are able to patrol throughout the sector. The number of military observers has been reduced to 116, and will continue to be reduced gradually to 106 by November.

The situation in the Gali-restricted weapons zone and, in particular, the security zone, has remained unstable and tense, the Secretary-General states. Violent acts, including common crime, continue to be a problem. Most mine-related incidents were directed at the CIS peace-keeping force and the Abkhaz militia and administration. In addition to the killing of 10 CIS peace-keepers by one of their comrades who subsequently killed himself, there were four attacks against the force and the Abkhaz militia in recent months, leading to the death of three peace-keepers and an Abkhaz militiaman. Stability in the security and restricted weapons zones of the Gali sector remains severely affected by the high rate of such common crimes as kidnapping, looting and armed robbery. The Abkhaz militia, poorly trained and ill-equipped, are unable to control the area. The mines threats remains the most serious problem in the Gali security and restricted weapons zones.

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