Abkhazia: Ways Forward
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Rr"^~N I SEP 2 2 2006 W
• e E-I v E p\ L —^rr"^~n I SEP 2 2 2006 W Note to Ms. Barcena EXECUTIVE OFFIC? 0? THE SECRETARY-GEf JERAL UNOMIG: Draft Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia 1. Please fmdjittached,,_fpr the Secretary-General's apprpyal the draft report on the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia. This is a mandate renewal report - the current mandate of UNOMIG expires on 15 October 2006. The report is to be issued on 2 October 2006; the Troop and Police Contributors meeting and the Security Council consultations are scheduled for 6 October. 2. The report covers the main developments in the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict since the last report of 26 June 2006 and the Security Council's adoption of resolution 1666 on 31 March 2006. A key development was the large-scale Georgian special operation in the upper Kodori Valley in July, as a result of which some military elements were re-introduced in that area in contravention of the 1994 Moscow Agreement on a Ceasefire and Separation of Forces. The Georgian side also refused to accept participation by the CIS peacekeeping force in monitoring the upper Kodori Valley jointly with UNOMIG. As a consequence, the peace process practically came to a halt as the Abkhaz side required demilitarization of the upper Kodori valley as a pre-condition for the resumption of dialogue on the broader negotiation agenda. The Georgian operation also took place against the background of the adoption, by the Georgian Parliament, of a resolution requesting the Georgian Government to start procedures to withdraw the CIS peacekeeping force from the conflict zone. -
Abkhazia and Georgia Mission Notes
Peacekeeping_4_v11.qxd 2/2/06 5:06 PM Page 111 4.112.4 Abkhazia-Georgia During 2005 the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) witnessed a series of UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) promising developments in the region, al- though a mutually acceptable settlement on • Resolution passage 24 August 1993 (UNSC Res. 858) Abkhazia’s status within Georgia remained and start date elusive. Following an eight-month hiatus in • SRSG Heidi Tagliavini (Switzerland) contact between the two parties, a UN-hosted • Chief military observer Niaz Muhammad Khan Khattak meeting in April 2005 signaled a resumption (Pakistan) of the formal peace process. The Georgian • Senior police adviser Colonel Jozsef Boda (Hungary) leadership affirmed its commitment to a • Budget $34.56 million peaceful solution and its readiness to engage (1 July 2005–30 June 2006) with the new Abkhaz leadership, elected in • Strength as of Military observers: 120 31 October 2005 Civilian police: 12 January 2005. However, Abkhazia questioned International civilian staff: 102 this commitment in view of Georgia’s in- Local civilian staff: 184 creased military expenditure and its closure of the Abkhaz portion of the Black Sea to inter- national maritime traffic. Strains between the parties and between the Georgian government especially in the Gali district.” The CISPKF and Russia culminated in a vote by the Geor- was initially composed of 3,000 peacekeepers, gian parliament in October that called for a but later reduced to 1,200. Although originally withdrawal of the CIS peacekeeping force envisaged as a multinational force, the reluc- (CISPKF). tance of other states to contribute troops under UNOMIG was established in August 1993 Russian command resulted in a solely Russian with an initial mandate to verify compliance force. -
Security Council Distr.: General 18 July 2007
United Nations S/2007/439 Security Council Distr.: General 18 July 2007 Original: English Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Security Council resolution 1752 (2007) of 13 April 2007, by which the Security Council decided to extend the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) until 15 October 2007. It provides an update of the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia since my report of 3 April 2007 (S/2007/182). 2. My Special Representative, Jean Arnault, continued to lead the Mission. He was assisted by the Chief Military Observer, Major General Niaz Muhammad Khan Khattak (Pakistan). The strength of UNOMIG on 1 July 2007 stood at 135 military observers and 16 police officers (see annex). II. Political process 3. During the reporting period, UNOMIG continued efforts to maintain peace and stability in the zone of conflict. It also sought to remove obstacles to the resumption of dialogue between the Georgian and Abkhaz sides in the expectation that cooperation on security, the return of internally displaced persons and refugees, economic rehabilitation and humanitarian issues would facilitate meaningful negotiations on a comprehensive political settlement of the conflict, taking into account the principles contained in the document entitled “Basic Principles for the Distribution of Competences between Tbilisi and Sukhumi”, its transmittal letter (see S/2002/88, para. 3) and additional ideas by the sides. 4. Throughout the reporting period, my Special Representative maintained regular contact with both sides, as well as with the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General both in Tbilisi and in their capitals. -
Georgia/Abkhazia
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH ARMS PROJECT HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH/HELSINKI March 1995 Vol. 7, No. 7 GEORGIA/ABKHAZIA: VIOLATIONS OF THE LAWS OF WAR AND RUSSIA'S ROLE IN THE CONFLICT CONTENTS I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATIONS............................................................................................................5 EVOLUTION OF THE WAR.......................................................................................................................................6 The Role of the Russian Federation in the Conflict.........................................................................................7 RECOMMENDATIONS...............................................................................................................................................8 To the Government of the Republic of Georgia ..............................................................................................8 To the Commanders of the Abkhaz Forces .....................................................................................................8 To the Government of the Russian Federation................................................................................................8 To the Confederation of Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus...........................................................................9 To the United Nations .....................................................................................................................................9 To the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe..........................................................................9 -
Kaliningrad: a Special Area in Central-Eastern Europe
Cultural Relations Quarterly Review Winter 2014 Kaliningrad: a special area in Central-Eastern Europe Kitti Mária Tádics Abstract: The main objective of this work is to analyse in detail Kaliningrad territory, focusing on the current political situation, separation tendencies and features of the national identity. The content of the work is divided into separate parts. The ambition of the first part is to define basic facts that make this area specific in the Central and Eastern Europe. The aim of the second part is to identify significant milestones in the history of Kaliningrad that substantially shaped Kaliningrad’s contemporary political picture, particularly Kaliningrad after the Russian regime change. The thesis also emphasizes the inclination of Kaliningrad to the West and the EU instead of Russian Federation and attempts to define causes that led to this particular tendency. The author of the work also would like to concentrate on the considerable alteration of Kaliningrad since the first presidency of Vladimir Putin. The intention of the last part is to resolve Kaliningrad-EU-Moscow relations. The author concluded that most profitable policy for Kaliningrad would be to help balance these two seemingly antagonistic positions and attempt to urge Russia and the EU to adopt measures most convenient for Kaliningrad. Keywords: Kaliningrad, Russia, sovereignty, European Union, regional policy Introduction In this essay I would like to summarize the current political situation, the separation tendencies and the features of the national identity in Kaliningrad oblast. First I would like to lay out some basic statements regarding to the area: 1. Kaliningrad oblast is a small Russian enclave which is inhabited by 1 million people and bordered by Lithuania and Poland at the coast of the Baltic Sea. -
Review of the Swedish Development Cooperation Within the Breakaway Region of Abkhazia, Georgia, 2011-2013 Final Report
2013:19 Sida Decentralised Evaluation Vera Devine Susanna Dellas Jessica Rothman Ian Christoplos Review of the Swedish Development Cooperation within the Breakaway Region of Abkhazia, Georgia, 2011-2013 Final Report Review of the Swedish Development Cooperation within the Breakaway Region of Abkhazia, Georgia, 2011-2013 Final Report May 2013 Vera Devine Susanna Dellans with Jessica Rothman and Ian Christoplos Sida Decentralised Evaluation 2013:19 Sida Authors: Vera Devine and Susanna Dellans, with Jessica Rothman and Ian Christoplos The views and interpretations expressed in this report are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida. Sida Decentralised Evaluation 2013:18 Commissioned by The Embassy of Sweden in Georgia Copyright: Sida and the authors Date of final report: May 2013 Published by Citat 2013 Art. no. Sida61608en urn:nbn:se:sida-61608en This publication can be downloaded from: http://www.sida.se/publications SWEDISH INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AGENCY Address: S-105 25 Stockholm, Sweden. Office: Valhallavägen 199, Stockholm Telephone: +46 (0)8-698 50 00. Telefax: +46 (0)8-20 88 64 Postgiro: 1 56 34–9. VAT. No. SE 202100-478901 E-mail: [email protected]. Homepage: http://www.sida.se Table of Contents Abbreviations and Acronyms ................................................................................................. 3 Preface ..................................................................................................................................... -
Political Prisoners in Post- Revolutionary Georgia
After the rose, the thorns: political prisoners in post- revolutionary Georgia Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. Article 2: Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, spirit of brotherhood. Article 2: Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty. Article 3: Everyone has be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty. Article 3: Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. Article 4: No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the the right to life, liberty and security of person. -
The Case of Mukhtar Ablyazov the Case of Tatiana Paraskevich The
www.odfoundation.eu The case of Mukhtar Ablyazov The case of Tatiana Paraskevich The case of Alma Shalabayeva The case of Muratbek Ketebayev The case of Alexandr Pavlov www.odfoundation.eu Contents 1. Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… (page 3) 2. The case of Mukhtar Ablyazov……………………………………………………………………………….. (page 7) 3. The case of Tatiana Paraskevich……………………………………………………………………………… (page 14) 4. The case of Alma Shalabayeva……………………………………………………………………………….. (page 17) 5. The case of Muratbek Ketebayev…………………………………………………………………………… (page 21) 6. The case of Alexandr Pavlov…………………………………………………………………………………… (page 23) 7. The cooperation of the intelligence services of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ukraine and the Russian Federation and the prevalence of torture in these (page 28) countries……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 8. Examples of misuse of the Interpol system by the countries in which human rights are violated………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… (page 32) 9. Conclusions and recommendations……………………………………………………………………….. (page 35) Appendix 1. Documents relating to the cooperation between Kazakh and Italian security agencies through Interpol channels on the case of Alma Shalabayeva………….. (page 39) Appendix 2. The inquiry of the members of the Polish Sejm, Marcin Święcicki and Ligia Krajewska to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, Radosław (page 43) Sikorski, regarding the deportation of activists of political opposition to Kazakhstan… Appendix 3. The response of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland to the inquiry of the members of the Polish Sejm, Marcin Święcicki and Ligia (page 45) Krajewska…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2 www.odfoundation.eu 1. INTRODUCTION During its 22nd annual meeting, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly expressed its regret that some OSCE participating states, seeking the arrest of opponents on politically motivated charges, continue to misuse the Interpol system. -
Chronicle: the Caucasus in the Year 2013
Chronicle: The Caucasus In the Year 2013 January 9 January 2013 The Georgian State audit agency launches a probe into the alleged violation of funding political parties’ rules by the United National Movement during the electoral campaign of 2012 11 January 2013 Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulates the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Ilia II, on his 80th birthday 18 January 2013 During an official visit to Armenia, Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili promises to the head of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church Catholicos Karekin II that Armenian history will soon be taught in Georgian schools 19 January 2013 police in Baku clash with shopkeepers protesting a rent increase by the managers of Azerbaijan’s largest shopping center 24 January 2013 The Azerbaijani police break up protests in the town of Ismayilli demanding the resignation of the local governor Nizami Alekberov 26 January 2013 Hundreds of people demonstrate in Baku to express their solidarity with the protests in the town of Ismayilli and some 40 participants are detained by the police including the blogger Emin Milli and investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova 26 January 2013 A statue of Azerbaijan’s late President Heydar Aliyev is removed from a park in Mexico City 27 January 2013 Three activists involved in a 26 January protest in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku are given prison sentences 28 January 2013 The Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers meet in Paris for talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group and aimed at settling the conflict -
S/2007/15 Security Council
United Nations S/2007/15 Security Council Distr.: General 11 January 2007 Original: English Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Security Council resolution 1716 (2006) of 13 October 2006, by which the Security Council decided to extend the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) until 15 April 2007. It provides an update of the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia, since my report of 28 September 2006 (S/2006/771). 2. My Special Representative, Jean Arnault, continued to lead the Mission. He was assisted by the Chief Military Observer, Major General Niaz Muhammad Khan Khattak (Pakistan). The strength of UNOMIG on 1 January 2007 stood at 127 military observers and 14 police officers (see annex). II. Political process 3. During the period under review, UNOMIG continued its efforts to prevent escalation of tensions, maintain stability and facilitate dialogue between the Georgian and Abkhaz sides. The agenda for the dialogue remained the three priorities endorsed by the United Nations-chaired high-level meetings of the Group of Friends in Geneva (see S/2004/315, paras. 5-7) and agreements between the Presidents of the Russian Federation and Georgia reached in Sochi (see S/2003/412, para. 5). Efforts and activities in this framework are aimed at improving confidence between the sides and facilitating meaningful negotiations on a comprehensive political settlement of the conflict, taking into account the principles contained in the document entitled “Basic Principles for the Distribution of Competences between Tbilisi and Sukhumi”, its transmittal letter (see S/2002/88, para. -
Georgia: the Death of Zurab Zhvaniya "A Setback for President, Government & Country"
Conflict Studies Research Centre Caucasus Series 05/08 Georgia: The Death of Zurab Zhvaniya "A Setback for President, Government & Country" C W Blandy Key Points * The loss of Zhvaniya removes the balance of power between ambitious factions in the government. * Presidential control could be increased without the restraints imposed by the partnership of Zhvaniya and Burjanadze. * With hawks in the ascendant, more extreme policies may be followed over issues such as Abkhazia and South Osetia. * Observance of the law and the constitution could be further flouted if it suited the executive. Contents Introduction 1 Doubts Over the Circumstances of Zhvaniya's Death 2 Table 1 – Changes to Senior Ministers in Georgian Cabinet 3 The Future 3 The Government of Zurab Nogaideli 4 Table 2 – Prime Minister Nogaideli's Cabinet 4 Box 1 – Opinions on Nomination of Zurab Nogaideli 5 Flaws in Government 5 Box 2 – Synopsis of Situation in Georgia by Davit Usupashvili, Legal Expert 5 Box 3 – Comments on Military Affairs by Kakha Katsitadze 6 Conclusion 7 Appendix: Georgia – Drivers of Instability 12 05/08 Georgia: The Death of Zurab Zhvaniya "A Setback for President, Government & Country" C W Blandy Introduction “Without overstatement it can be said that Zurab Zhvaniya was one of the pillars of Georgian politics in recent times. It is obvious that without the late premier, would there have been a 'Rose revolution'[?] – if Mikheil Saakashvili was its face, then Zhvaniya was its brain centre. Even enemies acknowledged his outstanding talent as an organiser -
Unsound Endeavours of the Abkhaz Side To
Алексидзе Левин - О несостоятельности попыток Абхазской стороны в конфликте в Абхазии-Грузия, юридически обосновать "право Абхазии на самоопределение, вплоть до отделения от Грузии" UNSOUND ENDEAVOURS OF THE ABKHAZ SIDE TO THE CONFLICT IN ABKHAZIA, GEORGIA, TO PROVE THE LEGITIMACY OF CLAIMING "THE RIGHT OF ABKHAZIA TO SELF-DETERMINATION, INCLUDING SECESSION FROM GEORGIA" In the course of armed conflict imposed onto Georgia in 1992-1993 in one of the histori- cal regions of Georgia-Abkhazia, a separatistically minded part of ethnic Abkhazians (repre- senting a little bit more than 17% of populations in the region) was able to submit the almost entire region to its control with the support of foreign mercenaries and armed military for- mations. On the 12 of October 1999 so called parliament of Abkhazia adopted "Act on State Independence of the Republic of Abkhazia". These claims were stipulated from the very be- ginning of 1993 by the International Community of States like the UN, OSCE and later by the European Union and the Council of Europe. However, the separatists are still making attempts to prove their rights to secession. The eloquent proof to that is a seminar on "State- legal Aspects of the Settlement of Abkhaz-Georgian Conflict" hold in Pitsunda (a small town in Abkhazia, Georgia) under the auspices of the Council of Europe and the UN on the February 12-13, 2001. During last time the separatists have intensified their efforts to prove their rights to se- cession using several arguments, in particular distorting a real status of Abkhazia within the borders of Georgia in 1918-1921 and 1922-1993.