Adopted by the Security Council at its 3618th meeting, on 12
January 1996
The Security Council,
Reaffirming all its relevant resolutions, in particular resolution
993 (1995) of 12 May 1995,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of
2 January 1996 (S/1996/5),
Reaffirming its commitment to the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of Georgia,
Stressing the need for the parties to intensify efforts,
under the auspices of the United Nations and with the assistance
of the Russian Federation as facilitator, to achieve an early
and comprehensive political settlement of the conflict, including
on the political status of Abkhazia, fully respecting the sovereignty
and territorial integrity of Georgia,
Noting the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections
in Georgia in November 1995 and expressing the hope that these
will contribute positively to the achievement of a comprehensive
political settlement of the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia,
Reaffirming also the right of all refugees and displaced
persons affected by the conflict to return to their homes in secure
conditions in accordance with international law and as set out
in the Quadripartite Agreement of 14 April 1994 on voluntary return
of refugees and displaced persons (S/1994/397, annex II),
Deploring the continued obstruction of such return by the
Abkhaz authorities,
Deeply concerned over the deterioration in the humanitarian
situation, in particular in the Gali region where there is a continued
lack of a secure environment,
Deeply concerned also at the rising violence and at the
killings being committed in the areas under the control of the
Abkhaz side reported in the letter of 8 January 1996 from the
Permanent Representative of Georgia to the United Nations addressed
to the President of the Security Council (S/1996/9),
Recalling the conclusions of the Budapest summit of the
Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (S/1994/1435,
annex) regarding the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia,
Reaffirming the necessity for the parties to comply strictly
with international humanitarian law,
Noting that the Moscow Agreement of 14 May 1994 on a Cease-fire
and Separation of Forces (S/1994/583, annex I) has generally been
respected by the parties with the assistance of the Commonwealth
of Independent States (CIS) peace-keeping forces and the United
Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG),
Expressing its satisfaction with the close cooperation
and coordination between UNOMIG and the CIS peace-keeping force
in the performance of their respective mandates and commending
the contribution both have made to stabilize the situation in
the zone of conflict,
Expressing concern about the safety and security of UNOMIG
and CIS personnel and stressing the importance it attaches to
their freedom of movement,
Noting that the forthcoming meeting of the Council of Heads
of State of the CIS to be held in Moscow on 19 January 1996 will
consider the extension of the mandate of the CIS peace-keeping
force,
1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General of 2 January 1996;
2. Expresses its deep concern at the continued deadlock in the
efforts to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the conflict
in Abkhazia, Georgia;
3. Reaffirms its full support for the efforts of the Secretary-General
aimed at achieving a comprehensive political settlement of the
conflict, including on the political status of Abkhazia, respecting
fully the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, as
well as for the efforts that are being undertaken by the Russian
Federation in its capacity as facilitator to intensify the search
for a peaceful settlement of the conflict, and encourages the
Secretary-General to continue his efforts, with the assistance
of the Russian Federation as facilitator, and with the support
of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE),
to that end;
4. Calls upon the parties, in particular the Abkhaz side, to achieve
substantive progress without further delay towards a comprehensive
political settlement and further calls upon them to cooperate
fully with the efforts undertaken by the Secretary-General with
the assistance of the Russian Federation as facilitator;
5. Demands that the Abkhaz side accelerate significantly the process
of voluntary return of refugees and displaced persons by accepting
a timetable on the basis of that proposed by the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and further demands
that it guarantee the safety of spontaneous returnees already
in the area and regularize their status in accordance with the
Quadripartite Agreement;
6. Calls upon the Abkhaz side in that context to promote, as a
first step, the return of refugees and displaced persons to the
Gali region, in safety and dignity;
7. Condemns the ethnic killings and continuing human rights violations
committed in Abkhazia, Georgia, and calls upon the Abkhaz side
to ensure the safety of all persons in areas under its control;
8. Calls upon the parties to improve their cooperation with UNOMIG
and the CIS peace-keeping force in order to provide a secure environment
for the return of refugees and displaced persons and also calls
upon them to honour their commitments with regard to the security
and freedom of movement of all United Nations and CIS personnel
and with regard to UNOMIG inspections of heavy weapons storage
sites;
9. Welcomes the additional measures implemented by UNOMIG and
the CIS peace-keeping force in the Gali region aimed at improving
conditions for the safe and orderly return of refugees and displaced
persons, and all appropriate efforts in this regard;
10. Expresses its full support for the elaboration of a concrete
programme for the protection and promotion of human rights in
Abkhazia, Georgia, as described in the Secretary-General's report
of 2 January 1996 and calls upon the Abkhaz authorities to cooperate
fully with the efforts to this end;
11. Decides to extend the mandate of UNOMIG for an additional
period terminating on 12 July 1996 subject to a review by the
Council of the mandate of UNOMIG in the event of any changes that
may be made in the mandate of the CIS peace-keeping force;
12. Reiterates its encouragement to States to contribute to the
voluntary fund in support of the implementation of the Agreement
on a Cease-fire and Separation of Forces signed in Moscow on 14
May 1994 and/or for humanitarian aspects including demining, as
specified by the donors;
13. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to keep the Council
regularly informed and to report after three months from the date
of the adoption of this resolution on all aspects of the situation
in Abkhazia, Georgia, including the operations of UNOMIG;
14. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.