Security Council extends UN Mission in Georgia through mid-October

The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) until 15 October, subject to any changes to the peacekeeping force deployed there by the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) made up of countries that used to be part of the Soviet Union.

Today’s unanimous vote came after a report earlier this week by Secretary-General Kofi Annan emphasized the need for agreements on the non-use of force and the return of internally displaced people in the conflict between the Government of Georgia and Abkhaz separatists. The Council requested Mr. Annan to keep the Council regularly informed of developments in both areas.

In the report, Mr. Annan also stresses the need for both sides to build on February’s UN-chaired talks in Geneva involving Germany, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States, which called for confidence-building measures between the parties and other steps.

The conflict in Abkhazia, strategically located on the Black Sea, began with social unrest and attempts by the local authorities to separate from the Republic. It escalated into a series of armed confrontations in the summer of 1992. A ceasefire agreement was concluded later that year but never fully implemented. Fighting which followed forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee.

Diplomacy by the Secretary-General's envoy helped to secure another peace agreement, paving the way for the establishment of UNOMIG. Fighting later resumed, sending hundreds of thousands of civilians, mostly Georgians, fleeing their homes.

Subsequent talks led to the deployment of a CIS peacekeeping force as well as the strengthening of UNOMIG.