Minutes of the meeting between the Georgian and Abkhaz sides on stabilization of the situation along the line separating the sides

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Country/entity: Georgia
Abkhazia
Region: Europe and Eurasia
Agreement name: Minutes of the meeting between the Georgian and Abkhaz sides on stabilization of the situation along the line separating the sides
Date: 24 Sep 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: For the Georgian side 
(Signed) V. LORDKIPANIDZE
(Signed) K . T ARGOMADZE
For the Abkhaz side 
(Signed) s. BAGAPSH
(Signed) A. KCHACH
(Signed) A. TARSA
(Signed) A. JERGENIYA
(Signed) v. MIKANBA
Third parties: From the United Nations (Signed) L. BOTA
From the collective peacekeeping forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States
(Signed) D. GAKHOKIDZE (Signed) D. BABIBASHVILI (Signed) D. TEVZADZE
(Signed) S. KOROEKO
Description: Confirmed statements on halting armed conflict and overcoming differences by peaceful means, and agreed to bring military strength in security and restricted zones into line with Moscow Agreement, and to complete work defining line separating armed formations in Nabakevi-Khurcha and Otobaya-Ganmukhuri villages. Agreed to establish effective communications between heads of administration in Gali and Zugdidi districts, and between leaders of armed groups in the two villages. Also provided for the establishment of working groups to draw up regulations governing procedure for joint investigation of criminal cases involving acts of terrorism and subversion committed in security zone.

Agreement document: GE_980924_Minutes of the Meeting between the Georgian and Abkhaz sides on Stabilization.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: Rights related issues→Media and communication→Other
Page 1, The sides reached agreement :
... 3. For purposes of prompt solution of problems if conflict situations arise in the security zone, effective communications shall be established between the heads of the administrations in Gali and Zugdidi districts, and also between the leaders of the armed groups of the sides in the region of Nabakevi-Khurcha and Otobaya-Ganmukhuri villages.
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, The sides again confirmed their statements on the halting of the armed conflict and, on the basis of the Agreement on a ceasefire and separation of forces of 14 May 1994, undertake not to use force to resolve any contentious issues.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
Page 1, The sides again confirmed their statements on the halting of the armed conflict and, on the basis of the Agreement on a ceasefire and separation of forces of 14 May 1994, undertake not to use force to resolve any contentious issues.

Page 1, The sides reached agreement :
1. To bring the strength of the armed groups and the number of armaments in the security and restricted weapons zones into line with the Moscow Agreement of 14 May 1994 .

Page 1, The sides reached agreement :
2. To complete the work on defining more accurately the line separating the armed formations in the region of Nabakevi-Khurcha and Otobaya-Ganmukhuri villages.
The sides undertake to study and resolve this issue by 1 October 1998. Until it is resolved, a temporary post of the CIS collective peacekeeping forces shall be established between them, jointly with the sides, and shall ensure compliance with the ceasefire regime.

Page 1, The sides reached agreement :
... 3. For purposes of prompt solution of problems if conflict situations arise in the security zone, effective communications shall be established between the heads of the administrations in Gali and Zugdidi districts, and also between the leaders of the armed groups of the sides in the region of Nabakevi-Khurcha and Otobaya-Ganmukhuri villages.
Police: Page 1, The sides reached agreement :
... 4. The law enforcement agencies of the sides shall cooperate in halting terrorist and subversive activity .
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
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 sides reached agreement :
... 4. The law enforcement agencies of the sides shall cooperate in halting terrorist and subversive activity .

Page 1, The sides reached agreement :
... 5. The public prosecutors' offices of Abkhaz and Georgia shall establish working groups which by 1 October 1998 shall draw up and approve regulations governing the procedure far joint investigation of criminal cases involving acts of terrorism and subversion committed in the security zone.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: Transitional justice→Courts→National courts
Page 1, The sides reached agreement :
... 5. The public prosecutors' offices of Abkhaz and Georgia shall establish working groups which by 1 October 1998 shall draw up and approve regulations governing the procedure far joint investigation of criminal cases involving acts of terrorism and subversion committed in the security zone.
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: From the United Nations (Signed) L. BOTA
Other international signatory: From the collective peacekeeping forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States
(Signed) D. GAKHOKIDZE (Signed) D. BABIBASHVILI (Signed) D. TEVZADZE
(Signed) S. KOROEKO
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Page 1, The sides reached agreement :
1. ... Monitoring of compliance with this paragraph shall be conducted by military observers of the United Nations and the CIS collective peacekeeping forces jointly with the sides.

Page 1, The sides reached agreement :
2. ...The sides undertake to study and resolve this issue by 1 October 1998. Until it is resolved, a temporary post of the CIS collective peacekeeping forces shall be established between them, jointly with the sides, and shall ensure compliance with the ceasefire regime.
Enforcement mechanism: [Summary] 1. parties reaffirm commitment to Moscow Agmt, stating that compliance to be observed by UN and CIS jointly with the sides.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: on file with author

MINUTES OF THE MEETING BETWEEN THE GEORGIAN AND ABKHAZ SIDES ON STABILIZATION OF THE SITUATION ALONG THE LINE SEPARATING THE SIDES

The sides again confirmed their statements on the halting of the armed conflict and, on the basis of the Agreement on a ceasefire and separation of forces of 14 May 1994, undertake not to use force to resolve any contentious issues.

All differences of opinion shall be overcome exclusively by peaceful means with the cooperation of the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Russian Federation.

The sides reached agreement :

1. To bring the strength of the armed groups and the number of armaments in the security and restricted weapons zones into line with the Moscow Agreement of 14 May 1994 .

Monitoring of compliance with this paragraph shall be conducted by military observers of the United Nations and the CIS collective peacekeeping forces jointly with the sides.

2. To complete the work on defining more accurately the line separating the armed formations in the region of Nabakevi-Khurcha and Otobaya-Ganmukhuri villages.

The sides undertake to study and resolve this issue by 1 October 1998.

Until it is resolved, a temporary post of the CIS collective peacekeeping forces shall be established between them, jointly with the sides, and shall ensure compliance with the ceasefire regime.

3. For purposes of prompt solution of problems if conflict situations arise in the security zone, effective communications shall be established between the heads of the administrations in Gali and Zugdidi districts, and also between the leaders of the armed groups of the sides in the region of Nabakevi-Khurcha and Otobaya-Ganmukhuri villages.

4. The law enforcement agencies of the sides shall cooperate in halting terrorist and subversive activity .

5. The public prosecutors' offices of Abkhaz and Georgia shall establish working groups which by 1 October 1998 shall draw up and approve regulations governing the procedure far joint investigation of criminal cases involving acts of terrorism and subversion committed in the security zone.

For the Georgian side

(Signed ) V. LORDKIPANIDZE

( S i g n e d ) K .

T ARGOMADZE

Far the Abkhaz side

(Signed) s. BAGAPSH (Signed) A. KCHACH (Signed) A. TARSA (Signed) A. JERGENIYA (Signed) v. MIKANBA

From the United Nations (Signed) L. BOTA

From the collective peacekeeping forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States

(Signed) D. GAKHOKIDZE (Signed) D. BABIBASHVILI (Signed) D. TEVZADZE

(Signed) S. KOROEKO

24 September 1998

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