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Resolution of the Parliament of Georgia Regarding the Current Situation in the Conflict Regions On the Territory of Georgia and Ongoing Peace Operations

Tbilisi, October 11, 2005


The Parliament of Georgia condemns the recent developments in the conflict regions existing on the territory of Georgia (Abkhazia, and the former South Ossetian Autonomous District).


Every effort of the Georgian side, as well as of the international community to intensify the process of conflict regulation through internationally recognized democratic norms and principles has to date reached no tangible result.  Moreover, the de facto Governments in the above-mentioned regions continue to pursue a policy of open confrontation, disregard for the principles of international law and establishment of criminal regimes, instead of pursuing a course of constructive cooperation. Clannish dictatorships have been established on the territories of Abkhazia and the former South Ossetian Autonomous District aimed at strengthening the personal power and obtaining illicit income.


Only under the stewardship of clannish and criminal governments in these regions it is possible to witness frequent kidnapping of citizens – including children; killings; unmitigated criminal gang activity, raids and robbery of the civilian population; creation and backing of terrorist and subversive groups  together with Russian special services,  currency counterfeiting; drug transit; trafficking of arms and people; smuggling; appropriating of refugee assets; denial of the right of instruction to citizens in their native language; and denial of their right to return to their dwellings.  This is an incomplete list of the outcomes that continue to result from the activity of these regimes.


Furthermore, the separatist regimes continue to attempt to legitimize the results of ethnic cleansing, mentioned in Budapest, Lisbon and Istanbul summits of OSCE  – the latest illustration of which is the total appropriation of homes from the forcibly exiled Georgian population.


It is clear that the aforementioned actions have nothing in common with the protection of the ethnic rights of the population residing today on the territories of Abkhazia and the former South Ossetian Autonomous District. The criminal dictatorship currently in place pose a threat to everyone, including those they allegedly try to protect.  One demonstration of the aforementioned is the repressive policy of the separatist governments against those Abkhaz and Ossetian citizens who have tried to move towards public diplomacy and confidence-building; among the punished and arrested there are underaged children whose only “guilt” is to have met with their Georgian coequals.


Due to the on-going information vacuum, repressions and anti-Georgian propaganda, the local population of the both regions has no possibility to realize and assess information regarding the peace initiatives currently proposed by the central government of Georgia.


The fundamental rights and freedoms on the territory of Abkhazia and of the former South Ossetian Autonomous District are violated not only against internally displaced persons, but also against the remaining population.  The separatist governments, manipulating issues of ethnic origin, attempt to monopolize the process of conflict regulation on behalf of their own clan-based interests, and against the fundamental interests of their population.


The question then arises – through what or whose support do separatist regimes manage to ignore the position of authoritative international organizations and violate all the basic norms of international law?


Regretfully, the answer to this question unambiguously indicates the role of Russian Federation in inspiring and maintaining these conflicts, the country which is an official facilitator for conflict settlement.


Russia is a member of the Group of Friends of the UN Secretary General working on the issues of Abkhazia, Georgia, as well as an executor of the peace Mission in Abkhazia under the auspices of the CIS, the Head of Quadripartite Monitoring Commission in the former Autonomous District of South Ossetia, a head of the peace mission and a participant of all agreements with respect to the conflict.  These functions impose certain obligations and responsibilities on the Russian Federation before the international community. 


Notwithstanding the aforementioned, the Russian Federation does nothing to promote the process of conflict settlement on the territory of Georgia, in fact, the current situation is quite the contrary.  A wide range of steps made by Russia currently strengthens the separatist regimes and de facto annexation of a part of Georgia’s territory.   Examples include:


·        The central government of Russia, despite of numerous protests from the Government of Georgia and an explicitly negative position of international organizations, continues to grant Russian citizenship en masse to the population remaining in the conflict zone via simplified administrative procedures, in violation of all international norms.


·        Similarly, despite several protests from the Government of Georgia and the explicitly negative position of international organizations, the central government of Russia, under a unilateral decision, introduced a visa regime in the conflict zones that differs from the rest of Georgia and that in essence establishes visa-free movement.


·        In violation of the principles of international law, as well as agreements in force within the CIS framework and Georgian legislation, citizens of Russia are being appointed to high-level positions (i.e. Prime-Minister, Ministers of Defense and Law Enforcement, commanders of military units etc.) in Tskhinvali and Sukhumi – individuals who simultaneously continue to work in law enforcement and the Special Services of the Russian Federation.


·        Without advising or negotiating with the Georgian government, various delegations of the Russian Federation, including federal delegations, frequently visit Sukhumi and Tskhinvali, concluding agreements and treaties and launching projects of political importance (e.g. Moscow-Sukhumi railway). 


A military parade dedicated to the celebration of so-called, “Independence Day” on 20 September in Tskhinvali has become a fact of special indignation where separatists demonstrated a very large amount of military equipment.  The presence of this equipment is in violation of both the Sochi Agreement of 14 June of 1992 and of the Document on Demilitarization signed in Sochi in 2004 where Russia played a role of guarantor.  The parade  displayed barefaced impudence not only against the Georgian Government, but also the international organizations involved in conflict settlement and demilitarization processes in the region.


The Parliament of Georgia insists on receiving answer to these questions – where and how did numerous pieces of new Russian heavy military equipment appear on the territory of the former South Ossetian Autonomous District, the entire administrative perimeter of which borders only Georgia and the Russian Federation?  Obviously, not from the Georgian side.  This equipment, as well as the frequent military drills, are a visible part of the hidden armament process carried out by the Russian Federation in the conflict regions of Georgia.  This process is so evident that it is often covered by Russian TV channels.   The parade in Tskhinvali once again demonstrated the reason why the Russian Government opposes the demand of the Georgian Government for the international community to maintain control over the Roki Tunnel connecting the Russian Federation with the Tskhinvali Region. It has once again been proved that the Russian peace-keeping forces dislocated in the region, by their format and ideology, do not serve the purpose of conflict resolution and demilitarization of the region. 


Similar examples and other open political or military support enable the separatist governments to ignore the positions of the international community and continue to blockade the peace process.  It is clear that the Russian Federation does not posses the political will to promote the process of conflict settlement on the territory of Georgia.


Accordingly, the Parliament of Georgia declares: 


An end should be put to the existence of stains on the face of democracy and violations of fundamental human rights and freedoms on the territory of Georgia; an end should be put to the existence of criminal enclaves and dictatorial regimes on the territory of Georgia.


The Parliament of Georgia deems it necessary to reach rapid progress in the process of peaceful political settlement of the conflicts existing on the territory of Georgia.


The Parliament of Georgia reaffirms that the entire spectrum of rights and freedoms for every indigenous Abkhazian and Ossetian citizen will be secured and the necessary conditions for the protection of their identity and development will be provided within a united Georgia. 


The Parliament of Georgia still hopes that the government of the Russian Federation will be able to overcome the legacy of imperialistic political stereotypes and play a real and active role in peaceful settlement of conflicts, thus proving that the Russian Federation has the will to be a worthy partner of the democratic community.


Proceeding from the aforementioned, the Parliament of Georgia resolves:


1.  To assess the activity and fulfillment of the obligations within the current mandate of the peace-keeping forces dislocated in Abkhazia and the former South Ossetian Autonomous District, as extremely negative.


2.   To entrust the Government of Georgia with the task of intensifying negotiations with the Russian Federation, international organizations and interested sides on the issues regarding the fulfillment of obligations undertaken by peace-keeping forces on the territory of the former South Ossetian Autonomous District and report to the Parliament on the current situation by 10 February 2006.


3. To entrust the Government of Georgia with the task of intensifying negotiations with the Russian Federation, international organizations and interested sides on issues regarding the fulfillment of obligations undertaken by peace-keeping forces on the territory of Abkhazia and report to the Parliament on the current situation by 1 July 2006.


4. The Parliament of Georgia, in the event that the processes provided for in Paragraph 2 are negatively assessed and no progress is witnessed, shall demand cessation of the peace-keeping operation on the territory of the former South Ossetian Autonomous District, as well as denunciation of the relevant international agreements and abolition of the existing structures starting from 15 February 2006.


5.  The Parliament of Georgia, in the event that the processes provided for in Paragraph 2 are negatively assessed and no progress is witnessed, shall demand cessation of the peace-keeping operation on the territory of Abkhazia, as well as denunciation of the relevant international agreements and abolition of the existing structures starting from 15 July 2006.


6.  To entrust the Government of Georgia, in the event of enactment of Paragraphs 4 and/or 5 of this Resolution, with the task of undertaking appropriate measures for the rapid withdrawal of the Russian peace-keeping forces acting within their relevant mandate from the territory of Georgia, as well as cooperation with every corresponding structure in order to ensure peace and stability in the conflict zones.


7.   To entrust the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia with the task of providing  adequate information on the Resolution of the Parliament of Georgia to international organizations and interested States, intensifying work aimed at seeking support for the peace initiatives of Georgia and launching new peace operations.


8.   To entrust the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the office of the Prosecutor General of Georgia with the task of undertaking legal inititives against foreign citizens illegally staying on the territory  of Georgia and hold political, administrative or other positions in the de facto government of Abkhazia and former South Ossetian Autonomous District.


9.  To entrust the Government of Georgia with the task of submitting a detailed road map for realization of the Tskhinvali peace plan initiated by the President of Georgia with due regard to the political, security, economic, social, legal, educational, cultural and other aspects by 1 December 2005.


10.   To entrust the Government of Georgia with the task of submitting a similar detailed road map for realization of the Abkhazia peace plan by 1 may 2006.


11.   The Parliament of Georgia shall start consultations with international organizations, interested States, members of civil society in Abkhazia and the former South Ossetian Autonomous District and international experts in order to elaborate and adopt relevant amendments to the Constitution, as well as other legal acts, including a law on restitution.

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