SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE OF GEORGIA MISSION UNTIL 15 OCTOBER, UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTING RESOLUTION 1666 (2006)

Security Council

5405^th Meeting (AM)

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE OF GEORGIA MISSION UNTIL 15 OCTOBER,

UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTING RESOLUTION 1666 (2006)

The Security Council this afternoon extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) until 15 October 2006, a decision that would be subject to a review in the event of changes in security conditions and in the mandate of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) peacekeeping force.

As it unanimously adopted resolution 1666 (2006), the Council underlined the primary responsibility of both the Georgian and Abkhaz sides to provide appropriate security and to ensure the free movement of UNOMIG, the CIS force and other international personnel.  It urged the Georgian side to address seriously legitimate Abkhaz security concerns, to avoid steps that could be seen as threatening and to refrain from militant rhetoric.

The Council urged the Abkhaz leadership to address seriously the need for a dignified return of internally displaced persons and refugees, including their security and human rights concerns, and to publicly reassure the local population that their residency rights and identity would be respected.  It urged both parties to finalize, without delay, the package of documents on the non-use of violence and the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, and to undertake necessary steps to secure the protection and dignity of the civilian population.

Reaffirming the commitment of all Member States to Georgia’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, the Council expressed its support for all efforts by the United Nations and the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General to promote a settlement of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict, only by peaceful means and within the framework of Security Council resolutions.  With a view to a lasting and comprehensive settlement, the Council recalled its support for the principles contained in the “Paper on Basic Principles for the Distribution of Competencies between Tbilisi and Sukhumi”.

The Council called on the two sides to make full use of all existing mechanisms as described in the relevant Security Council resolutions, in order to come to a peaceful settlement, and to comply fully with previous agreements and understandings regarding ceasefire, non-use of violence and confidence-building measures.  It also called on both parties to follow up on their expressed readiness for a meeting of their highest authorities, without preconditions.

Expressing its support for all Georgian and Abkhaz efforts to engage constructively in economic cooperation, including infrastructure rehabilitation, the Council welcomed Germany’s expressed intention to host a meeting on economic cooperation and confidence-building measures, pending progress in the conflict resolution process.

The Council welcomed UNOMIG’s efforts to implement the Secretary-General’s zero tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and to ensure full compliance of its personnel with the United Nations code of conduct.  It also urged troop-contributing countries to take appropriate preventive action, including predeployment awareness training, and to take disciplinary and other action, to ensure full accountability in cases of such conduct involving their personnel.

Beginning at 11:50 a.m., the meeting adjourned at 11:55 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1666 (2006) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling all its relevant resolutions, in particular resolution 1615 of 29 July 2005 (S/RES/1615),

“Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General of 17 March 2006,

“Supporting the sustained efforts of the Secretary-General and of his Special Representative with the assistance of the Russian Federation in its capacity as facilitator, as well as of the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General and of the OSCE,

“Stressing the importance of close and effective cooperation between UNOMIG and the CIS peacekeeping force as they currently play an important stabilizing role in the conflict zone, and recalling that a lasting and comprehensive settlement of the conflict will require appropriate security guarantees,

“1.   Reaffirms the commitment of all Member States to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders, and supports all efforts by the United Nations and the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General which are guided by their determination to promote a settlement of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict only by peaceful means and within the framework of the Security Council resolutions;

“2.   Recalls, with a view to achieving a lasting and comprehensive settlement, its support for the principles contained in the “Paper on Basic Principles for the Distribution of Competencies between Tbilisi and Sukhumi” and welcomes additional ideas that the sides would be willing to offer with a view to conducting creatively and constructively a political dialogue under the aegis of the United Nations;

“3.   Calls on the two sides to make full use of all existing mechanisms as described in the relevant Security Council resolutions in order to come to a peaceful settlement, and to comply fully with previous agreements and understandings regarding ceasefire, non-use of violence and confidence-building measures;

“4.   Urges both parties to finalize without delay the package of documents on the non-use of violence and on the return of refugees and internally displaced persons for the Gali district and to undertake necessary steps to secure the protection and dignity of the civilian population including the returnees;

“5.   Calls on both parties to follow up on their expressed readiness for a meeting of their highest authorities without preconditions;

“6.   Urges the Georgian side to address seriously legitimate Abkhaz security concerns, to avoid steps which could be seen as threatening and to refrain from militant rhetoric;

“7.   Urges the Abkhaz leadership to address seriously the need for a dignified return of IDPs and refugees, including their security and human rights concerns, publicly reassure the local population, particularly in the Gali district, that their residency rights and identity will be respected, and move without delay on implementing past commitments relating to United Nations police advisers, a United Nations human rights sub office and the language of instruction;

“8.   Underlines that it is the primary responsibility of both sides to provide appropriate security and to ensure the freedom of movement of UNOMIG, the CIS peacekeeping force and other international personnel and calls on both sides to fulfil their obligations in this regard;

“9.   Supports all efforts by the Georgian and Abkhaz sides to engage constructively in economic cooperation as envisaged in the Geneva meetings and complemented by the working groups established in Sotchi in March 2003, including, security conditions permitting, the rehabilitation of infrastructure, and welcomes the intention expressed by Germany to host a meeting on economic cooperation and confidence building measures, pending progress in the conflict resolution process;

“10.  Welcomes the efforts being undertaken by UNOMIG to implement the Secretary-General’s zero tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and to ensure full compliance of its personnel with the United Nations code of conduct, requests the Secretary-General to continue to take all necessary action in this regard and to keep the Security Council informed, and urges troop-contributing countries to take appropriate preventive action including the conduct of predeployment awareness training, and to take disciplinary action and other action to ensure full accountability in cases of such conduct involving their personnel;

“11.  Decides to extend the mandate of UNOMIG for a new period terminating on 15 October 2006, subject to a review, as appropriate, of its mandate by the Council in the event of changes in security conditions, including changes in the mandate of the CIS peacekeeping force;

“12.  Requests the Secretary-General to continue to keep the Council regularly informed and to report three months from the date of the adoption of this resolution on the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia, in particular on progress in negotiations on the documents on the non-use of violence and the return of refugees and IDPs;

“13.  Strongly supports the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and calls on the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General to continue giving her their steadfast and unified support;

“14.  Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

Background

The Security Council had before it the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Abkhazia , Georgia (document S/2006/173), which provides an update on developments since the report of 13 January.

On 2 and 3 February, senior representatives of the Group of Friends met in Geneva, under the chairmanship of the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations.  The Georgian and Abkhaz delegations were led by State Minister Giorgi Khaindrava and the de facto Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sergei Shamba, respectively.  The Friends underlined the need for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in the framework of the relevant Security Council resolutions, and reaffirmed their commitment to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders.  They agreed on the need to address the core political issues of the conflict, in addition to continuing work on confidence-building measures.

In this context, they recalled their support for the principles contained in the paper on “Basic Principles for the Distribution of Competencies between Tbilisi and Sukhumi” and welcomed additional ideas that the parties might be willing to offer.  The Friends also welcomed the continued good cooperation between the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) and the CIS peacekeeping force.

It is essential, states the report, that the Georgian and Abkhaz sides actively follow up on the understandings reached at the Geneva meeting of the Group of Friends.  In particular, early finalization of the documents on the non-use of force and on the return of internally displaced persons and refugees would be a strong indication of their commitment to make tangible progress in the peace process.  Moreover, a substantive meeting between their highest leaders would be a major confidence-building measure and a welcome step forward.

At the same time, without serious efforts to also address the core political issues of the conflict, prospects for a sustainable solution to the conflict will remain distant.  The Secretary-General urges the parties to explore options and modalities on how best to approach those issues.  His Special Representative will continue her efforts to assist the parties.  The steadfast and unified support of the Group of Friends will remain important for future progress.

The UNOMIG continues to play a key role in maintaining stability in the conflict zone and in facilitating progress towards a sustainable political solution of the conflict.  Therefore, the Secretary-General recommends that the Mission’s mandate be extended for six months, until 30 September 2006.  He urges the parties to ensure the security and freedom of movement of all UNOMIG personnel and, as a matter of priority, bring the perpetrators of criminal acts against the Mission to justice.

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