Resolution of the Georgian Parliament on Peacekeeping Forces Stationed in the Conflict Zones

In accordance with the resolutions N 1927-IIs and N 2655 adopted by the Parliament of Georgia respectively on 11 October 2005 and 15 February 2006, considered the current situation in Abkhazia and the former Autonomous District of South Ossetia and the issue concerning peacekeeping forces located there.

Unfortunately, no progress has been achieved in terms of settlement of these conflicts within the time frame defined by the  resolutions N 1927-II s and N 2655 adopted by the Parliament of Georgia respectively on 11 October 2005 and 15 February 2006.
 
Instead of demilitarization, the drastic increase of military potential of those armed forces under subordination of de-facto authorities of Abkhazia and former Autonomous District of South Ossetia, drastic activation of terrorist and subversive actions, complete collapse of security guarantees for peaceful population, permanent attempts to legalize the results of ethnic cleansing the fact of which had been repeatedly recognized by the international community, massive violation of fundamental human rights and ever-increasing international criminal threats so characteristic for uncontrolled territories- this is a reality brought about as a result of peacekeeping operations.
 
The peaceful policy of Georgian side, which envisages settlement of conflicts in full compliance with the internationally recognized  democratic norms and participation of international community, encounters opposition not only on the part of separatist regims, but also on the part of outside forces supporting them.
 
In fact, a peace plan on the Former Autonomous District of South Ossetia elaborated by the Georgian side and supported by OSCE and the European Union, had been rejected by the Russian Federation.
   
Continuation of those actions, which have been listed in the Georgian Parliament’s October 11, 2005 resolution 1927-II, as well as blockage of peace plan, can be assessed as a support towards separatists and as a permanent attempt to annex Georgia’s territory.

Based on the above mentioned, it is clear that actions undertaken by the Russian Federation’s armed forces in Abkhazia and in the former Autonomous District of South Ossetia represent one of the major obstacles on the way to solve these conflicts peacefully, which is a result of absence of a political will on  the part of Russian Federation to foster conflict resolution and to change the current status quo.
 
The  Parliament of Georgia once again reiterates  that Georgia remains committed to the peaceful resolution of the conflicts. The Georgian side’s peace plan and unilaterally undertaken steps are confirmation to this. The rights of ethnic Abkhazian and Ossetian citizens will be guaranteed in the united Georgian state, as well as all the conditions necessary for their development and preservation of their self-identity will be secured.

Proceeding from the aforementioned, the Parliament of Georgia considers further continuation of the peacekeeping operation by the armed forces of the Russian Federation in Abkhazia and Former Autonomous District of South Ossetia as inexpedient and resolves : 

1. To entrust the Government of Georgia with a task to launch necessary procedures to immediately suspend the so-called peacekeeping operations in Abkhazia and in former South Ossetian Autonomous District and to immediately withdraw the armed forces of the Russian Federation from the territory of Georgia.

2. The Government of Georgia should immediately start working over changing the peacekeeping format and over deployment of the international police forces in Abkhazia and former autonomous district of South Ossetia, also should acquaint the international community and the relevant international organizations with plans on peaceful resolution of conflicts and should actively cooperate with them in order to achieve the goal.

3. The Georgian government should activate work in order to  properly inform the residents of Abkhazia and former autonomous district of South Ossetia,  establish maximum possible confidence between the parties and  establish  peaceful, democratic way of living based on internationally recognized standards on the whole  territory of Georgia.
 
Chair of the Parliament of Georgia                                     
Nino Burjanadze
 
Tbilisi,
18 July 2006
N 3483-rs