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Rules Governing the Work of the Working Groups

  • Country/entity

    Georgia
    Abkhazia
  • Region

    Europe and Eurasia
    Europe and Eurasia
  • Agreement name

    Rules Governing the Work of the Working Groups
  • Date

    12 Jun 1997
  • Agreement status

    Multiparty signed/agreed
  • Interim arrangement

    Yes
  • Agreement/conflict level

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

    Pre-negotiation/process
  • Conflict nature

    Government/territory
  • Peace process

    Abkhazia peace process
  • Parties

    Georgia, Abkhazia
  • Third parties

    -
  • Description

    1. Defines status of working groups as exec bodies of the Coordinating Council, to work in the following areas: issues related to the lasting non-resumption of hostilities and security problems; refugees and IDPs; economic and social problems. 2. Working Groups to consist of reps of both sides, under the chair of the UNSRSG, with reps of Russian Federation (facilitator), the OSCE, and group of Friends of the UNSG. 5. The decisions of the Working Groups are adopted by consensus. They constitute recommendations to be submitted to the Coordinating Council. 6. Working groups to submit reports to the Coordinating Council. 7. Office of the SRSG to act as secretariat to working groups.


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
    Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Substantive
    Page 1, Status:
    ... Working Groups are established in the following areas:
    - Refugees and internally displaced persons (Working Group II);

    Page 2, 3. Meetings:
    The meetings of the Working Qroups shall be convened by the SRSG, and take place as follows:
    ... - Working Groups II and III shall meet as necessary

    Page 3, 4. Agenda.
    The agenda of the Working Groups is decided by the Coordinating Council.
    Tbe following are the substantive issues to be discussed by the Working Groups:
    ... Working Group II: Refugees and IDPs:
    - provision of humanitarian assistance to refugees and IDPs;
    demining in the whole zone of conflict to enable the return to normal conditions of life.
  • 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
    Power sharing→Political power sharing→International involvement
    Page 1, Membership and participants.
    Members of the Working Groups shall be made up ofrepresentatives ofthe Georgian and Abkhaz parties, two from each side, and meet the chairmanship of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) or his authorized representatives, with the participation of representatives of the Russian Federation as facilitator and the for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), as well as the group of Friends of the Secretary-General under the conditions defined in paragraph 3 of the Concluding Statement. Advisers and consultants may attend meetings ofthe Working Groups, if the parties so wish.
    Power sharing→Political power sharing→Other
    Page 1, Membership and participants.
    Members of the Working Groups shall be made up ofrepresentatives ofthe Georgian and Abkhaz parties, two from each side, and meet the chairmanship of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) or his authorized representatives, with the participation of representatives of the Russian Federation as facilitator and the for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), as well as the group of Friends of the Secretary-General under the conditions defined in paragraph 3 of the Concluding Statement. Advisers and consultants may attend meetings ofthe Working Groups, if the parties so wish.

    Page 3, 5. Decisions:
    The decisions of the Working Groups [are adopted by consensus. They] constitute recommendations, which shall be submitted to the Coordinating Council. When no consensus is reached for a recommendation on an issue discussed, the views of the parties on it are recorded in the report of the Working Groups to the Coordinating Council.
  • 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→Media roles
    Page 3, 4. Agenda.
    The agenda of the Working Groups is decided by the Coordinating Council.
    Tbe following are the substantive issues to be discussed by the Working Groups:
    ... Working Group III: Economic and Social Problems:
    - energy, transport, communications;
  • 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
    Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Socio-economic development
    Page 1, Status:
    ... Working Groups are established in the following areas:
    ... - Eonomic and social problems (Working Group lll).

    Page 2, 3. Meetings:
    The meetings of the Working Qroups shall be convened by the SRSG, and take place as follows:
    ... - Working Groups II and III shall meet as necessary
    Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Humanitarian assistance
    Page 3, 4. Agenda.
    The agenda of the Working Groups is decided by the Coordinating Council.
    Tbe following are the substantive issues to be discussed by the Working Groups:
    ... Working Group II: Refugees and IDPs:
    - provision of humanitarian assistance to refugees and IDPs;
    demining in the whole zone of conflict to enable the return to normal conditions of life.
    Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Infrastructure and reconstruction
    Page 3, 4. Agenda.
    The agenda of the Working Groups is decided by the Coordinating Council.
    Tbe following are the substantive issues to be discussed by the Working Groups:
    ... Working Group III: Economic and Social Problems:
    - energy, transport, communications;
    - ecology;
    - health care.
  • 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
    Page 3, 4. Agenda.
    The agenda of the Working Groups is decided by the Coordinating Council.
    Tbe following are the substantive issues to be discussed by the Working Groups:
    ... Working Group III: Economic and Social Problems:
    ... - ecology;
  • Water or riparian rights or access

    No specific mention.


Security sector

  • Security Guarantees

    No specific mention.

  • Ceasefire
    Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
    Page 1, Status:
    ... Working Groups are established in the following areas:
    - Issues related to the lasting non-resumption of hostilities and security problems (Working Group I);

    Page 2, 3. Meetings:
    The meetings of the Working Groups shall be convened by the SRSG, and take place as follows:
    - Working Group 1 shall meet as necessary, but at least once a week

    Page 2, 4. Agenda.
    The agenda of the Working Groups is decided by the Coordinating Council.
    Tbe following are the substantive issues to be discussed by the Working Groups:
    Working Group I: (A) Lasting non-resumption of hostilities:
    - examination of violations of the Agreement on the ceasefire and separation of forces of 14 May 1994, and
    - recommendations of measures to avoid recurrence;

    Page 2, 4. Agenda.
    The agenda of the Working Groups is decided by the Coordinating Council.
    Tbe following are the substantive issues to be discussed by the Working Groups:
    ... (B) · Security problems:
    - investigation of reports about acts of violence by armed groups and placement of mines
    - recommendations of measures to be taken to halt any activity by illegal armed formations, terrorists and subversive groups and individuals including those penetrating the Abkhaz territory
    from outside.
  • Police

    No specific mention.

  • 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 2, 4. Agenda.
    The agenda of the Working Groups is decided by the Coordinating Council.
    Tbe following are the substantive issues to be discussed by the Working Groups:
    ... (B) · Security problems:
    - investigation of reports about acts of violence by armed groups and placement of mines
    - recommendations of measures to be taken to halt any activity by illegal armed formations, terrorists and subversive groups and individuals including those penetrating the Abkhaz territory
    from outside

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
    Working Groups to consist of reps of both sides, under the chair of the UNSRSG.
  • Other international signatory

    No specific mention.

  • Referendum for agreement

    No specific mention.

  • International mission/force/similar

    No specific mention.

  • Enforcement mechanism

    No specific mention.

  • Related cases

    No specific mention.

  • Source
    https://peacemaker.un.org/georgia-coordination-council97

RULES goveming the work of the Working Groups

The following goveming the work ofthe Working Groups are drawn up by the Coordinating Council:

1. Status.

The Working Groups are executive bodies of the Coordinating Council.

They are established in accordance with the Concluding Statement on the outcome of the resumed meeting between the Georgian and Abkhaz parties held in Geneva from 17 to 20 November and the goveming the work ofthe Coordinating Council.

Working Groups are established in the following areas:

- Issues related to the lasting non-resumption o f hostilities and security problems (Working Group I);

- Refugees and intemally displaced persons (Working Group Il);

and sociaI problems (Working Group lll).

2. Membership and participants.

Members of the Working Groups shall be made up of representatives of the Georgian and Abkhaz parties, two from each side, and meet the chairmanship of the Special Representative of the Secretary-Genenil (SRSG) or his authorized representatives, with the participation of representatives ofthe Russian Federation as facilitator and the for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), as well as the group of Friends of the Secretary-General, under the conditions defined in paragraph 3 of the Concluding Statement.

Advisers and consultants may attend meeting of teh working groups, if the parties so wish.

3. Meetings

The meetings of the Working Qroups shall be convened by the SRSG, and take place as follows:

Working Group I meet as necessary, but at least once a week.

Working Groups II and III shall meet as necessary.

The working language at the meetings is Russian.

4. Agenda.

The agenda oftbe Working Groups is decided by the Coordinating Council.

The following are the substantive issues to be discussed by the Working Groups:

Working Group I:

(A) Lasting non-resumption of hostilities:

- examination of violations of the Agreement on - the and separation of forces of 14 May 1994, and recommendations of measures to avoid recurrence;

(B) Security problems:

- Investigation of reports about acts of violence by armed groups and placement of recommendations of measures to be taken to halt any activity by illegal formations, terrorists and subversive groups and individuals, including those penetrating the Abkhaz territory from outside.

Working Group Il:

Refugees and IDPs:

- provision of humanitarian assistance to refugees and IDPs;

demining in the whole zone of conflict to enable the return to normal conditions of life.

Working Group III:

Economic and Social Problems:

- energy, transport, communications;

geology;

- health care.

Other areas, issues and problems pertaining to the settlement of the conflict could be added with the agreement of the parties.

5. Decisions.

The decisions of the Worlcing recommendations, which shall be submitted to the Coordinating Council.

When na consensus is reached for a recommendation on an issue discussed, the of the parties on it are recorded in the report of the Working Group to the Coordinating Council.

6. Reports.

The Working Groups shall reports on their work to the CounciL These are signed by the Chairman and initialed by the participants.

7. Secretariat

The secretariat functions for the Working Groups are carried out by the Office of the SRSG.