YouSaid · the spoken record

Menagarishvili

lines on the record: 51
first: 1998-07-30
most recent: 1999-07-30
sittings or episodes: 3
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

“I wish to reiterate our strong resolve to cooperate further with the Organization and with the international community in this respect. We are confident that this is the only right way to reach lasting peace in my country. But it is also important that we make more resolute and energetic steps on this road to peace and stability. Let me express hope that the Council will take into account our views and reflect them in its decisions.”
1999-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4029 (1999) · source
“Unfortunately, cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on resolving the conflict is still lagging. We believe that the Security Council should stress the importance of the decision adopted at the December 1998 Oslo ministerial meeting of OSCE, which provides fundamental provisions with regard to the comprehensive political settlement of the conflict in Abkhazia and which constitutes a programme for the promotion of the cooperation between the United Nations and OSCE. Today I brought to the Council's attention some of our views regarding the ways to settle the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia, with the assistance of the United Nations, its Security Council and the Group of Friends of the Secretary- General.”
1999-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4029 (1999) · source
“We have more than once reiterated our strong commitment to the Geneva process, which appears to be the main forum for the comprehensive settlement of the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia. I wish to once again thank the Secretary-General for paving the way for this process and to express our readiness to work actively within the framework of the Geneva negotiations. In this respect we welcome the holding of meetings in Athens and Istanbul, which were effective in building mutual trust. I would also like to express our gratitude to the Government of Ukraine for its willingness to host a similar meeting in Crimea. At the same time I am confident that the Geneva process must be intensified through more active efforts by its participants. They will yield positive results and prevent the process from becoming a mere discussion club.”
1999-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4029 (1999) · source
“I strongly believe that this initiative should be brought up again. We think the Security Council should require the Secretary-General to resume consultations on the proposal set out in his 11 May 1998 report regarding the introduction of self- protection units. The future of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) peacekeeping operation also still remains a problem. Georgia believes that the CIS peacekeeping operation will be fully functional only after the implementation of the principle decisions adopted at the recent summits of the CIS. Unfortunately, the Abkhaz side is blocking the fulfilment of those decisions, leaving the CIS peacekeepers in the conflict zone with a mandate that expired some months ago.”
1999-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4029 (1999) · source
“We believe that only under secure conditions can the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia resume its activities in full, as set forth in its mandate. On behalf of the Government of Georgia I wish to express once again our readiness to do all in our power to ensure the safety of international personnel, though we believe that additional measures should be taken to this end. Georgia has always supported the idea of introducing a self-protection unit in the conflict zone. The purpose of this unit would be the protection and promotion of the United Nations Observer Mission. The tragic events of May 1998 in the Gali region once again proved the necessity of deploying such units in the conflict zone. Unfortunately, instead of its being urgently implemented, the idea disappeared into oblivion.”
1999-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4029 (1999) · source
“Undoubtedly the process of repatriation should be carried out in accordance with the timetable provided by the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, defining the security conditions for the returnees in the entire territory of Abkhazia, Georgia. We believe that the Security Council should categorically indicate to the Abkhaz side that the return of the refugees and displaced persons is not just a favour offered by the Abkhaz authorities, but constitutes the right of all the refugees and displaced persons in accordance with the principles of international law. The responsibility for any violation of this right will lie with the separatist regime. We attach particular importance to the security conditions of the international personnel in the conflict zone.”
1999-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4029 (1999) · source
“We therefore deem it appropriate to work out the structure of an interim international administration for the Gali district which would facilitate the repatriation of the refugees and at the same time carry out the regulation and management of social and economic issues until a fundamental political agreement is reached. Such a model would ensure the participation of the returnees in the system of governance and would also contribute to public confidence-building. It is also imperative to grant the returnees a special status which would provide them with the immunity necessary to ensure their constitutional rights. The United Nations should also confirm the right of all the refugees and displaced persons to the private property they had possessed before fleeing the region.”
1999-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4029 (1999) · source
“In pursuing such a position, the Abkhaz side is clearly disregarding the resolutions of the Security Council, which has more than once reiterated its respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia. We strongly believe that future dialogue on political status must be based on the suggestions of the United Nations, which would contribute to the constructive outcome of the negotiation process. The most complicated issue in the peace process is clearly the question of the repatriation of the refugees and displaced persons. Despite our common efforts, this process too is stalled. The main stumbling block remains the absence of conditions of security. Past experience has shown that, within their present mandate, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) peacekeepers too are unable to guarantee the safety of the returnees.”
1999-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4029 (1999) · source
“First, we would welcome the Secretary-General elaborating, with the participation of the Friends of the Secretary-General and based on experience throughout the world, the basic provisions for the political status of Abkhazia within Georgia, proceeding from the understanding that future negotiations on a political settlement will draw upon those provisions. We have recently circulated the proposals of the Government of Georgia, entitled "Basic principles for determining the status of Abkhazia within the new State structure of Georgia", annexed to document S/1999/813, providing our views on this important matter. We have come out with similar statements in the past, but the Abkhaz side has flatly rejected all of them.”
1999-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4029 (1999) · source
“It constitutes outright disregard of the position of the international community, which can in no way accept the holding of elections when more than half of the population is unable to participate in them and has been expelled from their homes. I believe that the Security Council should severely condemn the intention of the Abkhaz side to hold such "elections", declare it unlawful and strictly warn the Abkhaz authorities that such actions may seriously damage the peace process. Let me assure the Council that finger-pointing is not our purpose. Our goal is to really move the peace process out of the deadlock. To this effect, we believe that the Security Council should assume the leadership.”
1999-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4029 (1999) · source
“On that basis, the Security Council should once again recall the decisions of the Budapest and Lisbon summits of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and should stress that obstruction of the return of the refugees and displaced persons is nothing but a continuation of the policy of ethnic cleansing. This provision will trigger adequate action on the part of the Security Council in line with the spirit and the letter of the United Nations Charter. The decision of the Abkhaz authorities to hold so- called presidential elections in Abkhazia, Georgia, in the autumn of 1999 is one more attempt to establish the demographic changes resulting from the conflict.”
1999-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4029 (1999) · source
“All this is happening in the context of cynical statements by the Abkhaz authorities regarding the "unilateral initiative" to start the repatriation of the refugees and displaced persons. It is necessary to urgently consider the question of the ethnic cleansing carried out against the Georgian population and to reflect the findings in relevant documents of the Security Council. We have already circulated, as annexes to document S/ 1999/814, materials relating to an international seminar held in Tbilisi on 6 and 7 July 1999, which addressed the topic of "The policy of genocide and ethnic cleansing in Abkhazia, Georgia: the principal weapon of aggressive separatism". I am confident that nobody will remain indifferent to the facts of the violence reflected in these materials.”
1999-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4029 (1999) · source
“Abkhazia has become a scene of raging crime and impunity. Despite the efforts of the Georgian Government and the international community, the plight of the displaced persons and the returnees remains unspeakable. I think the time has come for the Security Council clearly to point to the unacceptability of this stagnation and categorically to urge the Abkhaz side to take constructive action. I wish particularly to stress the situation of the refugees and those who have spontaneously returned to the Gali region. Regrettably, the violence and assaults against the peaceful population still continue. Ethnic-related killings, hostage-taking and executions are frequent. Particularly worrisome are the statements of the Abkhaz authorities alluding to the possibility of repeating the events of May 1998.”
1999-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4029 (1999) · source
“We are strongly committed to the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Abkhazia. At the same time, we are confident that the demands and assessment of the destructive policy of the Abkhaz side should become more articulate and clear, for only this can accelerate and contribute to the peace process. Allow me to put forward some of the principles that we deem it essential for the United Nations to rely upon while handling the present situation in Abkhazia, Georgia. The outright obstruction of negotiations by the Abkhaz side raises question as to how long we can accept a status quo in the region established as a result of these fruitless negotiations. The seeming calm in Abkhazia is just an illusion. As a matter of fact, the situation is sharply worsening. Political, social and economic conditions are disastrous.”
1999-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4029 (1999) · source
“During and after the war, about three fourths of the entire population of Abkhazia fled the region, among them 250,000 Georgians, 50,000 Abkhazians and more than 100,000 Armenians, Russians and Jews. I wish to stress that we are dealing here with the same kind of humanitarian catastrophe against which the international community voiced its firm stance in Kosovo. We are not inclined to draw parallels. I am just trying to focus the Council's attention on a fact that I touched upon during my statement before the Council in January this year, namely that it is unacceptable to classify conflicts into "first-rate" and "inferior" ones, and to place the latter among the so-called frozen conflicts. Unfortunately, the conflict in Abkhazia has long been assigned to that category.”
1999-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4029 (1999) · source
“Drawing on our own experience, we can conclude that, if not handled adequately, these conflicts could well escalate into large- scale confrontations, involving other countries and regions. The example of Kosovo clearly indicates the necessity of taking urgent measures in volatile regions to prevent confrontation, by peaceful means, lest the use of force be seen as the only alternative to such action. We believe that the time has come for the world community to take necessary measures against those who for certain reasons seek to kindle internal disputes and impede negotiated agreements. Thus, it is time properly to assess the violence in one of the regions of Georgia, Abkhazia, as a result of which 300,000 refugees and displaced persons have been desperately waiting for six years to return to their homes.”
1999-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4029 (1999) · source
“Regrettably, the peace process is stalled, and despite our joint efforts there has been no tangible progress in the course of negotiations which could enable us to break the existing impasse. I believe that the seven long years that have elapsed since the outbreak of hostilities are more than enough to properly assess the development of the conflict and to precisely define the steps which would once and for all put an end to the dispute. Council members' profound knowledge of the present issue makes it unnecessary for me to go into a detailed account of the history of the conflict in Abkhazia or to speak in detail of its roots and reasons. I just wish to remind the Council of the danger that the separatist trend poses to international peace.”
1999-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4029 (1999) · source
“I am greatly honoured to have the opportunity to address this important forum on issues related to the current situation in Abkhazia, Georgia. But may I first express our sincere gratitude to the United Nations, the Security Council and the Secretary- General and his Special Representative, as well as to the group of countries known as Friends of the Secretary- General, for their continued support of Georgia's territorial integrity and for their active participation in the peace process. Their contributions are truly invaluable. The problem of Abkhazia is the most complex and painful issue in Georgia's recent history, and its urgent settlement is essential to restoring stability in the whole Caucasian region.”
1999-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4029 (1999) · source
“This is the wish and expectation of the Georgian people and of the international community. Let me therefore express the hope that the Council will give serious consideration to our suggestions and that it will arrive at the relevant decision.”
1999-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3972 (1999) · source
“I think the Security Council should welcome the bilateral dialogue between the parties, as well as the creation and functioning of joint investigative groups, with a view to investigating the violations of agreements reached. The Security Council should also express readiness to promote, within its capacity, the region's economic rehabilitation, in accordance with the progress reached in the peace process. The Government of Georgia expresses its full readiness to cooperate with the United Nations and with the international community as a whole in order to achieve the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia. This is the only acceptable way for all of us, but we are confident that some decisive steps should also be taken on the road to peace.”
1999-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3972 (1999) · source
“We support the idea of giving a special status to returnees, lest they should become hostage to political games and ambitions. We believe that the Security Council should take note of the decisions adopted at the December 1998 OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting in Oslo, which offer principal provisions with regard to the conflict settlement in Abkhazia, Georgia, and call for a strengthening of the cooperation between the United Nations and OSCE. One of the most important criteria of UNOMIG's activities should become its effective monitoring of the CIS peacekeeping operation. Therefore, relevant measures should be taken to that effect.”
1999-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3972 (1999) · source
“Together with the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General, it should elaborate proposals for a comprehensive political settlement of the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia, and submit them to the parties for consideration. We believe that the Security Council should once again reaffirm the right of all refugees and displaced persons to return safely to their homes, without preconditions and with adequate security safeguards. We also believe that it is necessary for the United Nations - together with the OSCE and the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General - to work out the mechanism to start this process. It is necessary to consider during the initial phase of settlement the creation of a provisional administration under international control that has the widest participation of returnees in self-governing and law enforcement bodies.”
1999-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3972 (1999) · source
“We should also stress the worrisome fact that the question of the comprehensive demining measures in the region is still unresolved. This affects the activities of international personnel and threatens the lives of peaceful civilians. I wish to underscore that safeguards for peace and security are part of the political process in dealing with armed conflicts, including the one in Abkhazia, Georgia. Proceeding from this understanding, the time has come to strengthen the political component in the activities of UNOMIG. Neither bilateral nor trilateral negotiations have yielded results with regard to the definition of the political status of Abkhazia within Georgia. Under these circumstances, the United Nations should not limit itself to just reaffirming the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia.”
1999-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3972 (1999) · source
“Since last May, the Georgian side has been opposed to the extension of the mandate of the CIS peacekeeping forces unless it reflects the realistic objectives provided in the decisions of the numerous summits of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Due to the lack of proper security conditions, the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) is also failing to discharge its functions fully. This factor seriously affects the activities of the United Nations in the conflict zone and threatens the situation in the region as a whole. Georgia has always supported the deployment of a self-protection unit in the zone of conflict. The present realities indicate that UNOMIG cannot function adequately without the introduction of such a unit.”
1999-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3972 (1999) · source
“The international community should also warn the Abkhaz side that further attempts to obstruct the return of refugees and displaced persons to their homes will be viewed as a continuation of the policy of ethnic cleansing and might well prompt the Security Council to employ relevant Articles of the Charter of the United Nations and bring those responsible to justice. My Government is gravely concerned at the security conditions in the conflict zone. Unfortunately, there is no doubt that under its current mandate the peacekeeping operation of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has already exhausted itself.”
1999-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3972 (1999) · source
“We believe that the time has come for the Security Council to consider seriously the question of the ethnic cleansing committed by the Abkhaz side against the Georgian population. The peace process has already reached the phase at which its further development will be impossible without an unbiased approach and the appropriate evaluation of the activities of the separatist regime. It is also necessary to recall the decisions of the Budapest and Lisbon summits of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) regarding the situation in Georgia, which stressed the unacceptability of demographic changes by means of force.”
1999-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3972 (1999) · source
“More importantly, during this period of time, the Abkhaz side has employed all the power in its hands to stall the process of the return of refugees and displaced persons to their homes and has violated every article of the May 1998 protocol in this regard. In his recent address to the members of the Security Council, President Shevardnadze put forward a number of proposals aimed at shaping the future actions of the international community with regard to the resolution of the conflict. Let me reiterate our firm belief that the family of nations should be more outspoken and demanding. It should strictly indicate that the return of refugees and displaced persons to their homes is not a favour, but rather their fundamental right under international law, and that the responsibility for violating that right should rest with the Abkhaz side.”
1999-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3972 (1999) · source
“Such "frozen" conflicts pose a threat to the international community and deplete its human and material resources without mitigating the suffering of the people affected. Worrisome examples of this have clearly emerged during the last six months in Abkhazia, Georgia. Since the tragic events of May 1998, the extermination of the Georgian population and violence against the returnees in Abkhazia, particularly in the Gali region, have not ended. The punitive operations by the so-called Abkhaz militia against the peaceful civilians, carried out under the pretext of curbing terrorism, are ongoing. Moreover, assaults on the Georgian villages of the neighbouring Zugdidi region from the territory controlled by the separatist regime have become systematic.”
1999-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3972 (1999) · source
“The continuation of the conflict in Abkhazia only serves the interests of certain political forces and clearly exemplifies the clash of values. On the one hand, there is the ethnocratic regime, the foundation of which is political ambitions and criminal interests. On the other hand, there is the country that has chosen the road of democratic development and aspires to create the acceptable model for the peaceful coexistence of different ethnic groups within one unified State. All this creates the impression that the international community is still inclined to classify existing conflicts as either "first rate" conflicts or "less important" ones, with the former enjoying the maximum concentration of efforts and the latter, due to lack of attention, turning into "frozen" ones.”
1999-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3972 (1999) · source
“The systematic and outright obstruction of the peace process by the Abkhaz side raises a question: how long will the Georgian side, the refugees and the international community wait for the "kindness" of the Abkhaz side to start the constructive dialogue? Or can we remain content with the status quo in the region, maintained at the expense of fruitless negotiations? Such a status quo is just an illusion. The fact is that, despite the pretended lull, the situation in the region is getting worse in all aspects. The political, socio-economic and criminal situation is catastrophic. Despite Georgia's efforts, the living conditions of the refugees and displaced persons are nothing less than tragic. All this definitely increases tension in the country and threatens the peace and security of the whole Caucasus region.”
1999-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3972 (1999) · source
“The October 1998 Athens meeting of the Georgian and Abkhaz sides on confidence-building measures was also a success, insofar as it was the largest and most representative meeting since the end of the war. Therefore, we pay homage to the Governments of Greece, Turkey, Ukraine and others and express our appreciation for their readiness to support the follow-up dialogue of the parties. Regrettably, the Athens meeting was no exception, given its outcome. The participants, including the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General, witnessed how the Abkhaz side reduced the documents of the meeting to the level of a vague declaration of intentions.”
1999-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3972 (1999) · source
“On 23 January 1999, at a meeting of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Georgia, the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General and Mr. Ardzinba, the latter rejected the document on the repatriation of refugees and displaced persons. I believe this fact is one more illustration of the obstructive policy of the Abkhaz side. The starting of the Geneva process was a true victory for all its participants and for the parties to the conflict. My Government remains confident that the Geneva framework is the key mechanism of the peace process. But I have to repeat myself: due to the intransigence of the Abkhaz side, the Geneva meetings have so far not yielded tangible results.”
1999-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3972 (1999) · source
“All this has assumed the character of a worrisome tradition, which should be noted by the international community and be dealt with in the appropriate manner. The recent proposal of the leader of the separatists, Mr. Ardzinba, regarding the unilateral decision of the Abkhaz side to repatriate refugees and displaced persons, is clearly one of the kind of "initiatives" I mentioned above. This decision was announced after the Abkhaz side caused the breakdown of the scheduled meeting between President Shevardnadze and Mr. Ardzinba, where the documents on the repatriation of refugees and displaced persons and on the maintenance of the ceasefire and the economic rehabilitation of the region were supposed to have been signed. This so-called initiative was also doomed.”
1999-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3972 (1999) · source
“Our concern and scepticism are based on the fruitless and protracted round of negotiations of the past six months. Here I wish to bring to the Council's attention the traditional practice that has emerged in the course of these negotiations - a practice designed to mislead the international community. As a rule, such meetings tend to reach their peak right before the meetings of the Security Council or other important forums on Abkhazia, Georgia. At that point, with a surprising promptness, there pops up some absurd and unrealistic initiative, the sole purpose of which is to create an illusion about the progress in the peace process. But every such "initiative" disappears into oblivion until the next important forum on Georgia convenes.”
1999-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3972 (1999) · source
“It has not been so long since last July, when I had the opportunity to address the Security Council with regard to the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia. The current development of events compels me to take the floor today for the same purpose. But at the outset, let me reiterate our deep sympathy and gratitude to the United Nations, in particular to the Secretary- General and to his Special Representative, as well as to the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General and to each and every member of the Council. Their continued support and efforts in support of peace in Abkhazia, Georgia, are truly invaluable. As I mentioned before, despite our joint efforts to reach a comprehensive political settlement of the conflict, the peace process is increasingly resembling a closed circuit, and the present situation offers anything but optimism.”
1999-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3972 (1999) · source
“In closing, let me convey the appeal of President Shevardnadze of Georgia that, at this point, the international community adopt a decision which lives up to the aspirations of the Security Council, reflecting the real situation in the conflict zone and suggesting relevant assessments and findings. Such a resolution must differ from the previous 18 documents, contribute to the decrease of tension and give new impetus to the reinvigoration of the negotiations to reach a successful outcome. I am strongly confident that the decision to be adopted by the Security Council today will meet this very appeal.”
1998-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3912 (1998) · source
“The Gali events have made it clear that the Human Rights Office requires changes and serious reinforcement. All these facts persuade us that the peace process requires a new impetus, first of all to overcome the non- compliance of the Abkhaz side with the demands of the international community. It is worrisome that the separatists feel somewhat confident in the face of mere reprimands and endless blandishments in response to their total disregard of the resolutions of the Security Council, of decisions of the Budapest and Lisbon summits of the OSCE, and of agreements signed by the parties. I am confident that the power, authority and prestige of the Security Council are the only guarantee that the consistent violation of agreements on the part of the Abkhaz side will not go unpunished.”
1998-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3912 (1998) · source
“I am confident that the Geneva process must become more viable were the question of the political status of Abkhazia to be addressed, fully respecting the territorial integrity of Georgia, as repeatedly confirmed by the Security Council. At the same time, we should not accept any linkage between the discussions on the political status of Abkhazia and the return of refugees, as has been and continues to be advocated by the Abkhaz side. I repeat, we should not accept that hundreds of thousands of people be held hostage to political negotiations. The effectiveness of the conflict-resolution mechanism depends considerably on the monitoring of the human rights situation. We should take into account the fact that the Human Rights Office in Sukhumi is part of UNOMIG and that its functions are one aspect of the peace process.”
1998-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3912 (1998) · source
“We condemn any action directed against the civilian population, peacekeeping forces and United Nations personnel in the conflict zone. My Government will take all possible measures against such action. At the same time, we believe that, without international efforts and concrete steps on the part of the United Nations, the resolution of this problem will be impossible. We believe it necessary to create a crisis-management mechanism in the conflict zone. One of the elements of such a mechanism would be the introduction of the United Nations self-protection unit. In this regard, I wish to reiterate our support for the proposal of the Secretary-General on the creation of such a unit.”
1998-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3912 (1998) · source
“The tragic events in the Gali district indicate that, without the creation of solid security mechanisms for the returnees, it would be impossible even to start the new phase of the repatriation. The time has come to think about activating mechanisms that will prevent the punitive operations and help avert the robbery, hostage-taking and killings. To this purpose, our proposals include the creation, in the Gali district, of a provisional joint administration and the establishment of a system of patrols under its auspices. The other serious problem is the massive laying of mines. Security guarantees would be practically impossible without comprehensive demining measures. Regrettably, the Abkhaz side rejects these very proposals, thus giving the lie to their declarations about their readiness to promote the return of refugees.”
1998-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3912 (1998) · source
“Regrettably, our proposals on the expansion of the mandate and functions of the peacekeeping operation were flatly rejected by the Abkhaz side, whereas the international organizations and other participants in the peace process failed to be demanding enough during the adoption of such an important decision. Foreign mercenaries have been actively engaged in the violence unleashed against the Georgian population. This fact again highlights the acute problem of the illegal influx of arms and aliens into the conflict zone. Unfortunately, even our joint efforts aimed at the resolution of this question are not sufficient. The developments in the Gali district have proven that the main problem we have to cope with is that of security conditions, since it acutely affects both the returnees and United Nations and other international personnel.”
1998-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3912 (1998) · source
“In this regard, the holding of the next round of the Geneva negotiations, under the joint efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, the Russian Federation as facilitator and the Friends of the Secretary- General, and the agreements that have been reached on a number of issues are of extreme importance. At the same time, the Geneva meeting, as well as the analysis of recent events in Abkhazia, revealed problems which require timely resolution; otherwise, the peace process will have no prospects of success. It should be noted that the punitive operations were carried out within the lZ-kilometre security zone controlled by the peacekeeping contingent. This clearly demonstrates the fragility of the mechanism of the ceasefire regime in the conflict zone.”
1998-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3912 (1998) · source
“Regardless of how tragic the results of this violence are, we are worried by the fact that the Abkhaz side continues to reject the implementation of its obligations regarding the unconditional return of refugees expelled during the events of May, as stipulated in the 25 May 1998 agreement. All this is nothing but a continuation of the policy of ethnic cleansing and an attempt to legitimize its results. After we reached the 25 May agreement on the ceasefire and separation of forces, our main goal was and remains the maintenance of the peace process.”
1998-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3912 (1998) · source
“Since 20 May more than 60 peaceful civilians have been killed in the Gali district and more than 40,000 civilians expelled from their homes. More than 1,400 houses were set on fire and ruined. It should be stressed that the massive destruction of houses reached its climax after the introduction of the ceasefire. The most unforgivable fact is that, together with residences, management buildings were also ruined, indicating the real aims of the perpetrators: to destroy the prospect of the return of refugees. Houses which had been rebuilt by the international community were also set on fire and levelled. Unfortunately, violence still continues in the region. Attacks on the villages located on the left bank of the Inguri River, kidnappings for ransom, executions and other serious crimes happen there on a daily basis.”
1998-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3912 (1998) · source
“On the whole, during the last five years, about 1,200 people fell victim to such violence. The last punitive operation was carried out on 20 May 1998. That day, in the face of the negligence of the peacekeeping forces, about 1,000 boyeviks were deployed in the Gali district. The separatists plundered the peaceful population, robbed their families and set fire to houses. Those who dared to resist were executed on the spot. The corpses of the murdered were even traded for a large ransom. In the aftermath of this barbaric operation, the majority of the population were once again forced out of their homes. Only the vigorous efforts of my Government made it possible to prevent Georgia's involvement in a full- scale war. Still, the results of these events are indeed tragic.”
1998-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3912 (1998) · source
“In order to stabilize the situation in the Gali district and to step up the organized return of the population, on 24 October 1997 and 28 April 1998 the summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) adopted decisions on the expansion of the activities of the CIS peacekeeping forces and on additional measures to improve the security conditions in the zone. The return of refugees and safeguards for their security were on the agenda of the Geneva negotiations as well. Despite all these measures, the Abkhaz separatist regime continued to follow its policy of terror against the population of the Gali district. By means of a unilateral change in the territorial borders of the district, the Gali territory had been artificially shrunk to half its normal size. Punitive operations in the district had become systematic.”
1998-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3912 (1998) · source
“The introduction of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) and of the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation into the conflict zone had inspired hope in the refugees and displaced persons and had prompted the process of their return. By May 1998 some 50,000 displaced persons spontaneously returned to the Gali district. International humanitarian organizations expended several million dollars for the reconstruction of houses for the returnees and for their most urgent needs, with a view to resettle the returnees in the Gali district and to speed up the process of repatriation.”
1998-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3912 (1998) · source
“Each and every one of us was instilled with hope when, through our efforts and the personal initiative of the Secretary-General, we started the Geneva negotiations under the leadership of the United Nations and with the participation of the of the Russian Federation as facilitator, the OSCE and the members of the group of Friends of the Secretary-General. Regrettably, the events that unfolded in the Gali district during May 1998 also called the Geneva peace process into question. In order to create an objective impression about the events in the Gali district, I will bring to your attention only several facts.”
1998-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3912 (1998) · source
“Despite the concrete proposals made by the Georgian side and because of the intransigence of the Abkhaz leadership, an agreement on the political status of Abkhazia has not yet been reached and the fate of some 250,000 refugees and displaced persons still remains unsolved. It is unclear when these destitute people will return to their homes, given the fact that the Abkhaz separatists continue their attempts to legitimize the demographic changes that have occurred as a result of the conflict. This is the sombre reality we have to face.”
1998-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3912 (1998) · source
“For five years, a solution for Abkhazia has been the subject of the Council's discussions. For five years, the international community has poured huge resources into monitoring the situation in Abkhazia, as well as into humanitarian assistance to those who have suffered as a result of this conflict. Unfortunately, despite all these efforts, we must confess that it is still premature to speak about serious progress. Moreover, the recent tragic events in the Gali district have clearly shown that the peace process is at a critical point and requires a new and possibly unconventional assessment of the present situation. The latest events barely leave us grounds for optimism, and I think that this situation is objectively reflected in the report of the Secretary-General.”
1998-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3912 (1998) · source