Core political issue to Georgian-Abkhaz conflict still not addressed – Annan

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a report released today, laments that the core political issue to the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict – the future status of Abkhazia – has not yet been addressed despite the opportunities provide by interested parties.

“While the parties moved ahead on economic cooperation and refugee return, little notable progress was made on political and security matters, including the future status of Abkhazia within the State of Georgia, and the question of security guarantees,” Mr. Annan states in his latest report to the Security Council on the situation in Abkhazia.

In the report, which also discusses the activities of the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) since last April, Mr. Annan appeals to both sides to muster the will to address the political aspects of the conflict.

“The paper on competences and its transmittal letter provide sufficient scope for addressing the justified concerns of the Abkhaz people in a satisfactory manner on the basis of international legitimacy,” he notes, referring to the “Basic Principles for the Distribution of Competences between Tbilisi and Sukhumi” paper submitted a year ago by his Special Representative for Georgia, Heidi Tagliavini.

Mr. Annan states that Ms. Tagliavini, with the support of the Group of Friends – comprising France, Germany, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and United States – has continued efforts to engage both the Georgian and Abkhaz sides in meaningful negotiations on a comprehensive political settlement on the basis of the paper.

The Secretary-General also welcomes the recent initiative by Georgia and the Russian Federation to start a dialogue on the process of refugee return and recommends that a civilian police component of 20 officers be added to UNOMIG to assist with the relocations and the Mission’s work in general.

“I continue to believe that UNOMIG plays an essential role in stabilizing the situation in the conflict zone and in providing a framework within which the sides can advance towards a comprehensive settlement,” Mr. Annan stresses, recommending a six-month extension of the Mission until 31 January 2004.