Record of the first extraordinary session of the Coordinating Council of the Georgian and Abkhaz parties

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Country/entity: Georgia
Abkhazia
Region: Europe and Eurasia
Agreement name: Record of the first extraordinary session of the Coordinating Council of the Georgian and Abkhaz parties
Date: 22 Jan 1998
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Georgian Separatist Conflicts (1989 - )
The Abkhazia-Georgia Conflict (1992 - )
Much like other conflicts that sprung up in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Abkhazia conflict emerged as an ethnic conflict following heighten nationalist awareness among Abkhaz and other minorities residing in the region. In 1978, protests against the Georgianization of Abkhazia emerged from Abkhaz intellectuals. Towards the end of the 1980s, both Georgian and Abkhaz nationalists demanded independence from the Soviet Union. Tensions began following clashes at Sukhumi University between pro-Unity protestors and Abkhaz nationalists in April-July 1989. However, the conflict remained a legal conflict up until August 1992 following the 1991 elections, wherein Abkhazians felt they were under-represented. War broke out between Abkhaz separatists, supported by Russian forces and hired fighters from the North Caucus. Within Abkhazia, Abkhaz separatists were generally supported by ethnically Armenian and Russian residents. Within Georgia the conflict was exacerbated following conflict in South Ossetia from 1989 onwards in addition to political strife between the supporters of the ousted president, Zviad Gamsakurdia, and the post-coup government led by Eduard Shevardnadze.

Significant human rights abuses occurred, particularly after the capture of Sukhumi in September 1993, after which Georgian residents, which consisted of 45 per cent of the population in 1989, were faced with mass expulsion and ethnic cleansing. Russian Peacekeepers acting under the umbrella of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), were deployed on the Abkhazia-Georgia line following a ceasefire in 1994. Atrocities towards ethnic Georgian’s continued with over 1,500 deaths post-conflict. In 1998 fighting re-erupted following a flare up of fighting in South Ossetia. Again it was resolved with a ceasefire agreement. However, as of 2016 the conflict remains unresolved.

The Russio-Georgian War (South Ossetia) (1989 - )
Following heightened nationalist awareness among Ossetians and policies undertaken at the expense of ethnic minorities by the Georgian government led by President Gamsakurdia, calls for Ossetian Independence increased. After clashes broke out in Tskhinvali during a pro-Georgia protest, the conflict began to militarize. When President Gamsakurdia maintained his position after elections in 1990, which were boycotted by South Ossetia, Ossetians organised elections for their own parliament. The central Georgian government reacted by abolishing the autonomous status previously held by South Ossetia. The formation of ethnic militias and increased attacks on civilians escalated on both sides and in December 1990 a state of emergency and an economic blockade were declared. Fighting was haphazard as fighters on both sides were poorly equipped and disciplined. The Georgian National Guard was primarily formed of volunteers due to a lack of resources and as a result fighters often acted out of self-interest. Assaults on Tskhinvali by Georgian forces were repulsed on several occasions, and Georgian forces were also noted to expel Ossetian residents and destroy villages out of revenge and as a means to re-claim territory.

The Sochi agreement (1992) established a ceasefire and security corridor, as well as divided the territory between Georgian and Ossetian administration. Relations deteriorated drastically in April 2008, and following shelling of Georgian villages on August 1, the Georgian military responded in force retaking most of Tskhinvali by August 7. Russian forces intervened on behalf of Ossetian separatists and after retaking Tskihvali, opened another front in the Kordori Gorge. A ceasefire was brokered on August 12, and the Kremlin declared its recognition of the territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on August 26. Russian forces have since strengthened their military presence in those regions in violation of the ceasefire.
Stage: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Abkhazia peace process
Parties: The Georgian party was represented by a delegation consisting of Mr. Vazha Lordkipanidze, Mr. Revaz Actamia. and Mr. Tamaz Khubua.
The Abkhaz party was represented by a delegation consisting of Mr. Tamaz Ketsba, Mr. Sergei Tsargush, and Mr. Viktor Khashba.
Third parties: UN (Chair), Russian Federation (Facilitator), OSCE, Group of Friends of the UNSG (France, Germany, Russian Federation, UK, US) as observers
Description: Instructed Working Group I to set up mechanism whereby parties, UNOMIG, and CISPKF could participate in the investigations and prevention of violations of the 1994 Moscow Agreement (see above).

Agreement document: GE_980122_Record of the 1st Extraordinary session.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: Page 1, Representatives of the parties, the Russian Federation acting as facilitator, the OSCE, and the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General made a statement during the course of this work.
The agenda of the session was
... 2. Recent diversionary activities and measures to strengthen security in the zone of conflict.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
Page 1, The Council adopted the following decisions:
... 2. lnstructed Working Group 1, in the course of one month, to set up a mechanism in which representatives of the Parties, UNOMIG, and/ or the CIS PKF might participate, for investigation and prevention of acts that represent violations of the Moscow Agreement on Ceasefire and Separation of Forces, and diversionary terrorist acts perpetrated in the zone of conflict.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 1, In opening the session the Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mr. Liviu Bota referring to the escalation of the diversionary terrorist activity in the zone of conflict stated that he rejected resorting to force for the settlement of the conflict, condemned the acts of terrorism and violence, and called upon parties to take all necessary and effective measures to halt any activity by illegal armed formations, terrorist and subversive groups and individuals, including those penetrating Abkhaz territory from outside, which could destabilize the peace process and precipitate a resumption of hostilities.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: Page 1, The Council adopted the following decisions:
... 2. lnstructed Working Group 1, in the course of one month, to set up a mechanism in which representatives of the Parties, UNOMIG, and/ or the CIS PKF might participate, for investigation and prevention of acts that represent violations of the Moscow Agreement on Ceasefire and Separation of Forces, and diversionary terrorist acts perpetrated in the zone of conflict.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: Under the auspices of the United Nations and the Chairmanship of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mr. Liviu Bota.;

Instructed Working Group I to set up mechanism whereby parties, UNOMIG, and CISPKF could participate in the investigations and prevention of violations of the 1994 Moscow Agreement (see above).
Other international signatory: Representatives of the Russian Federation in its capacity as facilitator, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the states belonging to the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General - France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States of America - acting as observers, participated in the work of the session.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Instructed Working Group I to set up mechanism whereby parties, UNOMIG, and CISPKF could participate in the investigations and prevention of violations of the 1994 Moscow Agreement (see above).
Enforcement mechanism: Instructed Working Group I to set up mechanism whereby parties, UNOMIG, and CISPKF could participate in the investigations and prevention of violations of the 1994 Moscow Agreement (see above).
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: on file with author

Record of the First Extraordinary Session of the Council of t he Georgian and Abkhaz Parties held in Tbilisi on 22 1998

The first extraordinary Session of the Coordinating Council established on the basis of the Concluding statements on the outcome of the meeting between the Georgian and Abkhaz parties (Geneva 17-19 Nov 1997) took place in Tbilisi on 22 January 1998 at the request of the Abkhaz side, under the auspices of the United Nations and the Chairmanship of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mr. Liviu Bota.

The Georgian party was represented by a delegation consisting of Mr. Vazha Lordkipanidze, Mr. Revaz Actamia.

and Mr. Tamaz Khubua.

The Abkhaz party was represented by a delegation consisting of Mr. Tamaz Ketsba, Mr. Sergei Tsargush, and Mr. Viktor Khashba.

Representatives of the Russian Federation in its capacity as facilitator, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the states belonging to the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General - France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States of America - acting as observers, participated in the work of the session.

in opening the session the Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mr. Liviu Bota referring to the escalation of the diversionary terrorist activity in the zone of conflict stated that he rejected resorting to force for the settlement of the conflict, condemned the acts of terrorism and violence, and called upon parties to take ali necessary and effective measures to halt any activity by illegal armed formations, terrorist and subversive groups and individuals, including those penetrating Abkhaz territory from outside, which could destabilize the peace process and precipitate a resumption of hostilities.

Representatives of the parties, the Russian Federation acting as facilitator, the OSCE, and the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General made a statement during the course of this work.

The agenda of the session was

Review of the Working Groups 1and Ill

Recent diversionary activities and measures to strengthen security in the zone of conflict.

General Harun-ar-Rashid, who chaired Working Group 1and Mr. Marco Borsotti who chaired Working Group III submitted reports on the work carried out by the respective groups.

The Council adopted the following decisions:

Approved the mandate of the needs assessment mission as recommended by Working Group III.

lnstructed Working Group 1, in the course of one month, to set up a mechanism in which representatives

of the Parties, UNOMIG, and/ or the CIS PKF might participate, for investigation and prevention of acts that represent violations of the Moscow Agreement on Ceasefire and Separation of Forces, and diversionary-terrorist acts perpetrated in the zone of conflict.

3. Requested Working Group il to meet during the half of February 1998 and to consider the implementation of the tasks entrusted to it.

4. To convene the next session of the Coordinating Council not later than the week of March to consider reports from the Working Groups and in particular the report and recommendations related to the outcome of the needs assessment mission.