Rules Governing the Work of the Working Groups

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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.

Agreement document
GE_970612_Rules governing the work of working groups.pdf | 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
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.