YouSaid · the spoken record

Chkheidze

lines on the record: 42
first: 1993-12-22
most recent: 2001-01-31
sittings or episodes: 6
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Furthermore, I am not convinced that paragraph 4, as proposed, should not be interpreted as exerting Security Council pressure upon a United Nations Member State to enter into a peace agreement with a separate region, thus setting a dangerous precedent from the standpoint of international law. The parties to the conflict have already signed several agreements on renouncing the use of force in the settlement of the conflict. Therefore, we consider that the stress should be placed on the necessity of accelerating work on the issues of the return of refugees and internally displaced persons to the Gali district, the economic rehabilitation of the region and guarantees ofthe non-resumption of hostilities.”
2001-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4269 (2001) · source
“During this meeting, the Georgians and Abkhazians intend to address important outstanding issues relating to the settlement of the conflict, and the success of these discussions will make an important and timely contribution to the peace process. However, the introduction of a new paragraph - paragraph 4 - into the draft resolution's operative part might jeopardize the upcoming meeting in Yalta and put the entire peace process on hold. As we have publicly stated on several occasions, the draft protocol and the draft agreement on peace and guarantees referred to in that paragraph are unacceptable to the Government of Georgia. The draft agreement on peace and guarantees is dubious in many respects. It is not referred to in the Secretary-General's report; neither has its content ever been discussed by the members of the Security Council.”
2001-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4269 (2001) · source
“In his most recent report, the Secretary-General outlined the following essential issues for the peace process: determining the future status of Abkhazia within the State of Georgia; the improvement of the security situation in the zone of conflict; the return of refugees to the Gali district as a first step towards the return of all refugees and internally displaced persons; the economic rehabilitation of Abkhazia; and confidence-building measures. Indeed, the draft resolution extensively addresses all these issues. I should like to take this opportunity to extend our gratitude to the Government of Ukraine for its initiative to host, in Yalta, the third meeting on confidence-building measures.”
2001-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4269 (2001) · source
“Allow me first of all to congratulate you, Sir, on presiding over the Council this month and providing such excellent stewardship of the work of the Security Council. I should like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to the Secretary-General and his Special Representative for Georgia, Mr. Dieter Boden, as well as the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General, for their tireless efforts in the process of achieving a comprehensive settlement ofthe conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia. In the words of the Secretary-General, no number of resolutions or statements can change reality; only actions can do so. It is important to make sure that the draft resolution before the Council does not fail that test. In this context, I should like to make some brief comments regarding the draft resolution on the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia.”
2001-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4269 (2001) · source
“We also express the hope that the Security Council will make use of all means available to it to convince the separatists of the hopelessness of their destructive policy. We also wish to express our certainty that the appropriate international support for a settlement will also be given through the peace-keeping activities of the regional organizations of the CIS. We believe that higher demands and expanded action are necessary to prevent further escalation of tension and bloodshed.”
1996-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3680 (1996) · source
“It is clear, on the other hand, that a true assessment of the parties' positions as reflected in their actions cannot be achieved on the basis of a balanced approach. In these circumstances, in which the resolutions of the Security Council are ignored and the efforts of international organizations and individual States come to naught, events threaten to take a tragic turn, and the international community's determination will be able to triumph only through enforcement. My Government cherishes the hope that all possible steps will be taken to expand the participation of the international community in a settlement of the conflict. In our view, it would be useful to send representatives of the Security Council to Georgia to study the situation on the ground.”
1996-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3680 (1996) · source
“Only its age-old coexistence with Georgians has enabled the small Abkhaz nation to retain its identity, culture, language and opportunities for development. The difficult but ultimately inevitable process of Georgia's revival is ineluctably linked to the future of Abkhazia. It is precisely in this connection that the President of Georgia has come up with the idea of creating a special fund to carry out the process of economic reconstruction of the region's infrastructure once the political negotiations are successfully concluded. The Government of Georgia expresses its great hope that this idea will receive broad international support and believes it to be an important incentive for the evolution of the peace process. Georgia's Government is well aware that both sides bear responsibility for maintaining peace and stability.”
1996-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3680 (1996) · source
“It is perfectly obvious that a peaceful settlement and mutual compromise can be attained only on the basis of the good will of both parties to the conflict, as noted in paragraph 56 of the report. But was not this commitment spelled out in Georgia's proposals on the status of Abkhazia in document S/ 1996/ 165? The guarantee of the implementation of these proposals lies in the policy of the Government of Georgia and the firm position of President Eduard Shevardnadze, who has repeatedly reiterated it. His efforts constitute a deterrent to the supporters of chaotic and radical actions. When we speak of the prospects for achieving peace in the region, we must take into account the historic traditions of our peoples who, despite various political developments, have never changed.”
1996-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3680 (1996) · source
“We must assume that if, in the future, the opportunity to receive objective information from the area is not reestablished, the number of reports about the Abkhaz militia's carrying out operations to quell resistance, such as those noted in paragraph 32 of the report, or about the banditry and carousal of criminal groups in areas not controlled by the Abkhaz militia, as described in paragraph 26, will continue to grow. It is not surprising that such a description of the situation leaves us unhappy. Meanwhile, individuals who are well known to everyone are officially incorporated into the law enforcement organs of Abkhazia and have received numerous military decorations for valour, while being officially acknowledged as executioners and torturers of many innocent civilians included in the long list of victims.”
1996-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3680 (1996) · source
“The mining of a great number of areas in the region has provided to those interested in doing so the opportunity to harass the international presence in areas they have selected for terrorism. The population, in a state of constant terror, has in fact lost all hope for or faith in justice. The mining of the territory also has far-ranging consequences, allowing those who are carrying it out to create conditions in which international observers are deprived of first-hand information and in which the thwarting of the international community is planned and premeditated.”
1996-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3680 (1996) · source
“It is becoming clear that the breakdown in the process of negotiating the return of refugees is linked to the desire to legitimize lawlessness and play for time. The houses of refugees who have been persecuted are occupied by criminals as rewards for their crimes. At the same time, a carefully planned and well organized programme is being carried out to limit the international presence in the region. Things have reached the point where the lives not only of the defenceless and humiliated Georgian population deprived of its rights, but also of United Nations military observers, are being threatened, not to mention their inability to carry out their mandated tasks. This calculation has turned out to be impeccable.”
1996-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3680 (1996) · source
“The targets of violence are no longer selected based on ethnic criteria: Abkhazia has been transformed into a sanctuary for local and foreign criminals. In this situation, it seems cynical at the very least for the separatists to assert that the obstacle to the return of refugees is the will of the remaining local population and that "some time" is required to change this. This issue is addressed in paragraph 7 of the Secretary-General's report. This is nothing but an attempt to create the impression that genocide and the forcible takeover of territories as a result of the allegedly provoked conflict should be taken for granted and that the majority remaining in the territory is concerned "to heal [the] wounds and to change [the] outlooks" (S/1996/507, para. 7) of the minority inhabitants.”
1996-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3680 (1996) · source
“The implementation of a policy of genocide and "ethnic cleansing" towards Georgians in Abkhazia was broadly recognized for the first time at the Budapest Summit of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (S/l994/l435). The Parliament of Georgia is considering a wealth of information received by the Prosecutor's office that bears witness to crimes against humanity. The policy of violence has forced three quarters of the Abkhazian population to leave their homes. The physical and moral condition of these displaced persons, who have been forced to remain without shelter, is desperate, and their death rate has significantly increased. These ethnically-motivated murders, abductions and torture are compounded by a deterioration of the general situation of crime throughout the territory of Abkhazia.”
1996-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3680 (1996) · source
“This conflict continues to impede the development of sound political processes and is an insurmountable barrier to economic and social progress. The Secretary-General's latest report rightly takes note of the fact that the peace process is at a standstill. The Gali region, on which international efforts are currently focused, is engulfed by lawlessness and chaos. Today the process of political settlement has been essentially undermined. Negotiations have broken off and the rare meetings merely create the illusion that they are continuing. The small number of refugees who have returned to their homes have become hostages in the hands of bandit groups, and their lives and dignity are humiliated.”
1996-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3680 (1996) · source
“The development of democratic processes condemned to failure the policy of force, which was fighting to continue the conflict in Abkhazia and in other regions of the former Soviet empire. Antagonism arose between progressively developing democracy and remaining revanchists, who stood on the sidelines; this revanchism set its roots in such hotbeds as Abkhazia. The development of the tragic events in that region significantly promoted the process of the spread of large quantities of weapons and drugs, as well as the formation of illegal armed bands, which later became bandit units. Abkhazia was transformed into a powerful force for destabilization in the Caucasus, and, despite the efforts of the international community, this negative trend continues to intensify.”
1996-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3680 (1996) · source
“Our country has consistently been aware of the support of the international community. Today, hundreds of thousands of persecuted people see their prospects for salvation as based on approaches elaborated by the international community. Their hopes for the future are linked to this. This faith is today a vital force for Georgia. It is thanks to this faith that we can survive all the festering wounds that the Abkhaz war has inflicted on many families on both sides of the Inguri River. Today, the origin and development of the confrontation is no longer a secret. Also well-known are how the conflict arose, fed by slogans of defence of the communist empire; what the sources of weapons were; and the mandate for impunity for aggressive separatism.”
1996-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3680 (1996) · source
“Mr. Chkheidze (Georgia) (interpretation from Russian): I am gratified, Sir, to have the opportunity once again to express to you our profound respect and to greet you in your capacity as President of the Security Council. Allow me, on behalf of my Government, to express deep gratitude to the United Nations to the Security Council and to the Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, and his representatives for their assistance to Georgia in its time of hardship. We should like to extend our sincere gratitude to the group of countries known as "Friends of Georgia" for their attention and their tireless efforts aimed at a comprehensive solution to the conflict. We also wish to express our gratitude to Russia, as facilitator, for its untiring peace-keeping efforts.”
1996-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3680 (1996) · source
“Eduard Shevardnadze, has expressed his deep concern over this tragic incident and stressed that it was aimed at hampering the peace process and at the institutionalization of "ethnic cleansing" and genocide against Georgians in the Abkhaz region. On behalf of my President, today I appeal to the Security Council to assist us by using its capacity to stop further bloodshed and restore peace in Georgia. We deeply hope that the members of the Security Council, all interested parties, will once again seriously consider the situation in my country and will take necessary measures to prevent the imminent escalation of this dispute.”
1996-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3618 (1996) · source
“The adherence of the Georgian population to this course was reflected in the presidential and parliamentary elections held in Georgia on 5 November 1995. At the same time, numerous breaches of agreements by the Abkhaz side, violations of the provisions of Security Council resolutions and attempts to ignore, evade and negotiate away their obligations have brought us to the conclusion that peace has to be enforced. The enforcement of peace was the only solution for Bosnia and the same is likely to be true for the Caucasus. The recent massacre in the Gali region provokes pain and resentment. The President of Georgia, Mr.”
1996-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3618 (1996) · source
“In carrying out this barbaric act, the separatists once again overrode numerous resolutions of the Security Council and ignored the presence of the United Nations observers and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) peace-keeping forces in the region. It is clear that by being represented at different international levels, leaders of the separatists promote their names and drag out peace negotiations. They are trying their best to transform the Abkhaz conflict into a Balkan-like conflagration. The Georgian Government has always been committed to the peaceful resolution of the conflict, for we realize that only a negotiated settlement of the dispute can meet the interests of my people and those of the international community.”
1996-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3618 (1996) · source
“Despite the resolutions of the Security Council calling for the unconditional return of refugees to their homes to be ensured, only a small group of displaced persons has managed to return to the region of Gali. They live particularly unprotected, under the constant threat of being executed or of being evicted from their homes for ever. On January 5, 1996 in the village of Sheshleti in the Gali region, Abkhaz boeviks brutally tortured and killed innocent civilians, Mr. Sanaia and six members of his family, including his wife, children and grandchildren. Mr. Sanaia's two neighbours, who had come to prevent the massacre, were also executed on the spot.”
1996-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3618 (1996) · source
“Is it possible to forget that not so long ago the leaders of the Abkhaz separatists joined those who attempted to save the Soviet empire and were the most active members of the notorious radical grouping known as Soyuz? Equipped with communist slogans, separatists provoked the confrontation and then turned it into a lasting ethnic conflict. Abkhaz separatists stubbornly continue to intimidate the civilian population through kidnappings, tortures and summary executions. People are deprived of minimal living conditions and struggle to survive in abject poverty and humiliation. Their victims are not only Georgians, but also those Abkhazis who have realized the true motive of the conflict and have condemned the adventurist policies of the separatists.”
1996-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3618 (1996) · source
“Having experienced bitter lessons of history, the Georgian Government has always ascribed special importance to the meaning of peace and sought to bring stability and balance to the Caucasus region. It has become clear that the objective of establishing market-oriented and democratic principles cannot be attained solely by declarations of good will and the dissemination of truthful information about the processes in the region. Indisputably, the process of the world's political change is not yet completed. It has just reached its most painful phase. The conflict in Abkhazia is only a part of the scheme conceived by the henchmen of totalitarian revenge. Unfortunately, due to economic, political and geographical factors, the Caucasus has turned into the main theatre of these dramatic developments.”
1996-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3618 (1996) · source
“Any decision whatsoever adopted in this Chamber is of paramount importance for the Government of my country. The awareness of the constant care and attention accorded to Georgia by the international community inspires hope for the ultimate triumph of justice. The firm position of the Security Council regarding the developments in the troubled region of Georgia has repeatedly thwarted the aspirations of the separatists to divide the country and to put its sovereignty in question. The Georgian people are gratified by the strong stand of the Council against any manifestation of separatism and for political and material support for Georgia's efforts to overcome this crisis.”
1996-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3618 (1996) · source
“Beta, for the attention and good will they have accorded the dramatic processes in Georgia. I should like to express my sincere gratitude to the members of the group of countries known as Friends of Georgia and to the Russian Federation as facilitator for their tireless efforts to bring about a comprehensive political settlement of the protracted conflict in my country. Allow me also to commend the joint activities being carried out by the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) and the peace-keeping forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in monitoring the cease-fire, as well as their efforts to facilitate the repatriation of thousands of refugees. Today the Security Council is once again in session to deliberate on the situation in Georgia.”
1996-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3618 (1996) · source
“Allow me at the outset, Sir, to congratulate you on assuming the functions of President of the Security Council for this month. We believe that under your skilful guidance, the Security Council will successfully continue to fulfil its difficult and responsible task. Allow me also sincerely to congratulate the five new members on their election to the Security Council. I wish to express the hope that their efforts will add a new impetus to the important work of this body. On behalf of my Government and the people of Georgia, I should like to extend warmest words of appreciation to the United Nations, its Security Council and, personally, to the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, as well as to his Special Envoy, Ambassador Brunner, and his Deputy, Mr.”
1996-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3618 (1996) · source
“Under the circumstances, the Government of the Republic of Georgia would welcome a decision by the Security Council to extend the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia, for we believe that the United Nations presence in the region will greatly contribute to its stability and to the peace process as a whole.”
1995-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3488 (1995) · source
“He warned at that time against the danger of aggressive separatism under the guise of the ideals of self-determination, and he urged the international community to take all necessary measures to keep at bay this new trend, running counter to the purposes and principles of the United Nations and jeopardizing the lives of thousands of innocent people. My President also expressed the fear that in the Caucasus 'as nowhere else is the danger so great that the existing internal conflicts will merge with the ones in neighbouring States and grow into regional or even continental wars fought along national or religious lines'. (Ofiicial Records of the General Assembly, F arty-seventh Session, Plenary Meetings, 12th meeting, p. 28-30) Unfortunately, in the light of current events this ominous prediction is becoming ever more realistic and imminent.”
1995-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3488 (1995) · source
“The current plight of the refugees, who are scattered throughout Georgia, is ruinously affecting its already devastated economy. Despite intensive humanitarian assistance from the international community, Georgia is experiencing, in the face of the cold winter, severe shortages of food, fuel and medicine. Speaking of the present situation in Georgia, I would presume to remind the Security Council of the prediction that Mr. Eduard Shevardnadze made in his speech before the forty-seventh session of the General Assembly.”
1995-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3488 (1995) · source
“As I mentioned earlier, a year has passed since the negotiations opened in Geneva, but no arrangements have yet been made for the return of the more than 250,000 refugees and displaced persons to their homes. The Abkhaz side is doing its utmost to prevent the return of those who have been forcibly expelled, even terrorizing the few still remaining in the Gali and other districts of Abkhazia. The decision of the Security Council that the refugees and displaced persons should be allowed to return to their homes is being effectively disregarded and ignored. Although the Security Council has condemned any attempt to change the demographic composition of Abkhazia, the region is still being settled with people of so- called Abkhaz origin - in fact mercenaries, who, as a reward, are given the houses of Georgians free of charge.”
1995-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3488 (1995) · source
“In a futile attempt to accelerate the peace process, in September 1994 Georgia's Head of State Visited the zone of conflict and negotiated with the leader of the Abkhaz side. Unfortunately, the Abkhaz leadership is constantly violating Security Council resolutions and seeking to evade, ignore and negotiate away its obligations. Its intransigence reached its pinnacle when the separatists unilaterally adopted a new constitution on 26 November 1994 and declared Abkhazia a subject of international law, thus damaging the peace process almost beyond repair. We are gratified that the Security Council immediately condemned this unilateral decision and once again reaffirmed the territorial integrity of Georgia.”
1995-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3488 (1995) · source
“I should also like to underscore the joint activities being carried out by the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) and the peace-keeping forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States to monitor the cease-fire and ensure the safe return of thousands of homeless, which is being organized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. It has been more than a year now since negotiations began in Geneva. My Government remains fully committed to the peace process initiated by the United Nations and has complied with all the documents adopted by the Security Council and the Quadripartite Commission. Bearing in mind the importance of reaching a negotiated settlement of the dispute, Georgia is fully cooperating with the United Nations and has taken realistic, practical steps to reach a compromise.”
1995-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3488 (1995) · source
“Eduard Shevardnadze, allow me to express our deepest appreciation to the United Nations, to its Security Council and especially to the Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, and his Special Envoy, Ambassador Edouard Brunner, for the attention and goodwill they have accorded to the process under way in my country. The resolutions on Georgia adopted by the Security Council and the recent Visit of the Secretary-General to the region have made clear to the world community the importance that the family of nations attaches to the comprehensive settlement of the protracted conflict in Abkhazia. I should like to express my sincere gratitude to the members of the group of countries known as 'Friends of Georgia' and to the Russian Federation, as facilitator, for their efforts to bring about a peaceful settlement of the dispute.”
1995-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3488 (1995) · source
“First of all, Sir, I should like to extend our sincere congratulations to you on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month and to wish you success in your activities. We would also express our gratitude to the previous President of the Security Council, the Permanent Representative of Rwanda, for his efforts directed at the cost-effective work of the Council. It is an honour and great pleasure for us to see here present the new members of the Security Council. We believe that their contribution to the work of the Council will be important and valuable. On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Georgia and in the personal name of its Head of State, Mr.”
1995-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3488 (1995) · source
“But I should also like to stress that an urgent resolution of the refugee problem is the key to the determination of the political status of Abkhazia itself. Return of the refugees must be carried out without any precondition.”
1994-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3332 (1994) · source
“The meeting in Moscow three days ago unfortunately failed to result in a solution of the refugee issue, because of the attempts of the Abkhaz side to create a screening mechanism for the refugees and displaced persons during the process of their return. What is more, how can this process ever begin when the places where they resided are being repopulated by non-indigenous elements, including foreign combatants? This is nothing but a concealed form of ethnic S/PV.3332 4 cleansing. It also challenges the efforts of the United Nations and previous agreements for a peaceful settlement. We realize that determination of the political status of Abkhazia, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Georgia, is the key to an overall political settlement.”
1994-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3332 (1994) · source
“I should like to take this opportunity to once again repeat how greatly my Government appreciates the efforts of the Secretary-General and of the Security Council to achieve stabilization and an overall political settlement of the situation in Abkhazia, the Republic of Georgia. I should also like to express my admiration for, and appreciation of, the Special Envoy of the Secretary General, Ambassador Brunner, who has been doing an arduous job. In the complexity of the Abkhaz conflict the issue of the refugees and displaced persons is of the utmost importance to us. Not only are refugees and displaced persons a burden on our devastated economy, but delay in solving the problem may also serve as a kind of fuse for further destabilization. That is why I urge that greater attention to the peace-keeping operation in Abkhazia, is indispensable.”
1994-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3332 (1994) · source
“The leadership of the Republic of Georgia expresses the hope that, in order to achieve these objectives, the United Nations in the very near future will expand its presence in the territory of the region, including armed peace-keeping forces and civilian experts.”
1993-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3325 (1993) · source
“Stability is a threat to those forces that are striving for political power through the use of violence and that are enriching themselves through trade and weapons, through pillage and robbery. All peaceful efforts will encounter vehement resistance by these forces, but there can be no retreat from such efforts. We hope that today's decision of the Security Council will become one more authoritative reaffirmation of this policy. We hope also that the efforts of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, and his Special Envoy, Mr. Edouard Brunner, will achieve positive results in the development of the process of peaceful negotiations. We wish to take particular note of the active and comprehensive assistance rendered by Russia.”
1993-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3325 (1993) · source
“The lives of many people and, most important, of innocent children have been saved by humanitarian assistance. The words of gratitude of my people are addressed to the States and to the international organizations which have responded to the Security Council's appeal for emergency humanitarian assistance. The only path to a settlement is that which the leadership of Georgia sees in the negotiating process. It is well known that we participated in these negotiations even after previous agreements had been violated. It is also well known that this conflict was imposed on Georgia and that it is by no means an ethnic conflict. Such an understanding of the events would be an oversimplication. The conflict has a clearly expressed political basis. Destabilization is the most effective method of struggling against democracy.”
1993-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3325 (1993) · source
“I have asked to speak to convey, on behalf of the leadership of the Republic, our gratitude for the efforts the Council has been making to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Abkhaz problem. For more than a year now, it has been claiming lives, wreaking havoc with the destiny of people and threatening regional stability. It is one of those bloody links in the chain of events on which the attention of the Security Council is now focused. I should like to convey to the Council the expressions of gratitude of hundreds of thousands of dispossessed refugees. They are given hope by the fairness reflected in the decisions of the Security Council and by the objectivity of the United Nations leadership in assessing the existing situation.”
1993-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3325 (1993) · source
“Mr. CHKHEIDZE (Georgia) (interpretation from Russian): The draft resolution under consideration raises to a new level the efforts of the international community and opens the way to further development of the peace process. Consideration of this question, including the comments made and the support for those comments, reflects the aspiration to reinforce the first results of the negotiation process. We cannot allow this process to be frozen, despite the intention of the Abkhaz side to carry out, on the territory of the autonomous Republic, a referendum on the future political system of Abkhazia. Naturally, we favour the free expression of the will of the people of the autonomous Republic, but after the restoration of justice and the return of the refugees, to which we aspire so much.”
1993-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3325 (1993) · source