Protocol, The Sukhumi Meeting between the Geogian and Abkhaz Sides on the Implementation of the Protocol of 24 September 1998 and Other Measures Aimed at Stabilization of the Situation in the Zones of Security and Limited Weaponry

• Country/entity

  Georgia
  Abkhazia
  
• Region

  Europe and Eurasia
  Europe and Eurasia
  
• Agreement name

  Protocol, The Sukhumi Meeting between the Geogian and Abkhaz Sides on the Implementation of the Protocol of 24 September 1998 and Other Measures Aimed at Stabilization of the Situation in the Zones of Security and Limited Weaponry
• Date

  3 Feb 2000
• Agreement status

  Multiparty signed/agreed
• Interim arrangement

  Yes
• Agreement/conflict level

  Intrastate/intrastate conflict ( Georgian Separatist Conflicts (1989 - ) )
• Stage

  Implementation/renegotiation
• Conflict nature

  Government/territory
• Peace process

  Abkhazia peace process
• Parties

  On Behalf of the Abkhaz Side, Mr. V. Tsugba; On Behalf of the Georgian Side, Mr. V. Lortkipanidze;
• Third parties

  On Behalf of the CIS Peace- Keeping Forces, Mr. S. Korobko; On Behalf of the UN, Mr. D. Boden
• Description

  Short agreement renewing commitment to a number of previous agreements and outlining the implementation means of the Protocol of 24 September 1998.

• Agreement document

  GE_980928_Sukhumi Meeting.pdf | Download PDF

Groups

Gender

State definition

Governance

Power sharing

Human rights and equality

Rights related issues

Rights institutions

Justice sector reform

Socio-economic reconstruction

Land, property and environment

Security sector

Transitional justice

Implementation

PROTOCOL

The Sukhumi Meeting between the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides on the Implementation of the Protocol of 24 September 1998 and Other Measures Aimed at Stabilization of the Situation in the Zones of Security and Limited Weaponry

In accordance with an Agreement of 14 May 1994, Statement of 14 August of 1997, Protocol of 25 May 1998, Protocol of 24 September 1998, and Protocol of 21 December 1998, during this period of time the Parties have fulfilled a number of pledged commitments.

Namely, point 2 of the Protocol dated 21 September 1998 on clarification of the demarcation line in villages of Nabakevi, Khurcha, Otobaia and Gamakhuri between the armed formations of the sides to the conflict, has been fulfilled.

In accordance with point 3 of this Protocol, permanent operative connections between the heads of Zugdidi and Gali Administrations are maintained.

Besides, on 19 January 2000 in Tbilisi, the Sides to the conflict signed a Protocol on establishment of a joint group to investigate politically motivated crimes.

The group has started its activities.

However, the operative situation in the zones of security and limited weaponry remains rather tense.

There are a lot of cases of subversive activities and terrorist acts.

In most cases, the victims of these illegal activities are law enforcement personnel and civilian population.

The practice of taking hostages has become commonplace.

The point 1 of the Protocol of 24 September 1998, according to which the Parties were obliged to reduce their military presence in the zones of security and limited weaponry to the number, laid down in the Moscow Agreement of 14 May 1994, has not been fulfilled.

All the aforementioned constitute a serious threat of the resumption of hostilities between the parties.

Acting in the spirit of signed agreements on refusal to use force or threat of use of force, the Parties have agreed on the following:

1. Based on the point 1 of the Protocol dated 24 January 1998, the Parties, together with the CIS Peace- Keeping Forces and UNOMIG, commit themselves to calculate within a month the number of military personal and weaponry in the zones of security and limited weaponry and bring it down to the level agreed before and will not allow it to exceed the limit in the future.

2. The Parties, together with the CIS Peace-Keeping Forces and UNOMIG, will undertake within a month all appropriate measures to withdraw from the zones of security and limited weaponry all illegal armed groups and individuals.

3. Within two month, the Parties will release all the hostages taken by the armed formation from December 1999 to January 2000.

Within the same time limit, the Georgian side will transfer to the Abkhaz side the bodies of those individuals perished on 25 January 2000.

4. The Parties undertake to materialize the point 3 of the Protocol of 21 December 1998 on the establishment of permanent telephone "hot" line between the heads of the Gali and Zugdidi Administration and between the field commanders acting in the zones of security and limited weaponry, and in conformity with the point 4 of the same Protocol to settle the issue of rotation of armed formations located along the line dividing the Parties.

5. In conformity with the Gagra Protocol of 25 May 1998, the Parties commit themselves to undertake all necessary measures to prevent penetration of criminal armed formations and individuals into the zones of security and limited weaponry.

6. In order to guarantee the implementation of the provisions of this Protocol, the Parties commit themselves to maintain permanent connection and if necessary, to undertake joint measures.

On Behalf of the Georgian Side Mr. V. Lortkipanidze

On Behalf of the UN

Mr. D. Boden

On Behalf of the Abkhaz Side Mr. V. Tsugba

On Behalf of the CIS Peace- Keeping Forces Mr. S. Korobko