S/PV.3774 Security Council

As this is the first meeting of the Security Council for the month of May, I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute, on behalf of the Council, to His Excellency Mr. António Monteiro, Permanent Representative of Portugal to the United Nations, for his service as President of the Security Council for the month of April 1997. I am sure I speak for all members of the Security Council in expressing deep appreciation to Ambassador Monteiro for the great diplomatic skill with which he conducted the Council’s business last month. Adoption of the agenda

I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of Georgia, in which he requests to be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the Council’s agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite that representative to participate in the discussion, without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided.

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Members of the Council have before them the report of the Secretary-General concerning the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia, document S/1997/340. I should like to draw the attention of the members of the Council to the following other documents: S/1997/268, letter dated 1 April 1997 from the Permanent Following consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: “The Security Council has considered the report of the Secretary-General concerning the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia, of 25 April 1997 (S/1997/340). It has also taken note of the letter of the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the Secretary-General of 1 April 1997 (S/1997/268) and of the letter of the Permanent Representative of Georgia to the President of the Security Council of 28 April 1997 (S/1997/339). “The Security Council reiterates its full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders. “The Security Council reaffirms its full support for a more active role for the United Nations, with the assistance of the Russian Federation as facilitator, aimed at achieving a comprehensive political settlement. “The Security Council acknowledges the efforts in support of the peace process of the Secretary-General and his Special Envoy, with the assistance of the Russian Federation as facilitator, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General on Georgia as mentioned in the report of the Secretary-General of 25 April 1997. “In this context, the Security Council fully supports the proposals made by the Secretary-General in his report of 25 April 1997 to strengthen the involvement of the United Nations in the peacemaking process. It fully supports, in particular, the intention of the Secretary-General to convene a meeting with both sides to map out the areas where concrete political progress can be made. The Council encourages the Secretary-General to explore the idea of revitalizing the Coordinating “The Security Council welcomes the intention of the Secretary-General to appoint a resident Special Representative, as a successor to his current Special Envoy for Georgia, and to strengthen the political element of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG). “The Security Council further encourages the Secretary-General to take such steps as are necessary, in cooperation with the parties, in order to ensure a prompt and safe return of the refugees and displaced persons to their homes, with the assistance of all relevant international organizations. The Council takes note of the initiation of activities by the United Nations Human Rights Office in Abkhazia, Georgia. “The Security Council continues to stress that the primary responsibility for reinvigorating the peace process rests upon the parties themselves. It welcomes the continuation of direct dialogue between the parties. The Council calls upon them, in particular the Abkhaz side, to intensify the search for a peaceful solution by further expanding their contacts, and requests the Secretary-General to make available all appropriate support if so requested by the parties. The Council notes the appeal of the Secretary-General to both parties to pursue the current discussions on the implementation of the decisions of 28 March 1997 adopted by the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) (S/1997/268, annexes I and II). “The Security Council remains deeply concerned at the continued deterioration of the security conditions in the Gali region, including acts of violence by armed groups, indiscriminate laying of mines and armed robbery, and the resulting deterioration of the safety and security of the local populations, of the refugees and displaced persons returning to the region, and of the personnel of UNOMIG and the Collective Peacekeeping Forces of “The Security Council reminds the parties of their obligation to ensure the safety and freedom of movement of UNOMIG and the CIS peacekeeping force, and, in particular, to prevent the laying of mines. “The Security Council welcomes the good cooperation between UNOMIG and the CIS peacekeeping force and their efforts to promote stabilization of the situation in the zone of conflict. “The Security Council also welcomes the continued efforts by the United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations to address the urgent needs of those suffering most from the consequences of the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia, in particular internally displaced persons, and encourages further contributions to that end. It also reiterates its encouragement to States to contribute to the voluntary fund in support of the implementation of the Agreement on a Cease-fire and Separation of Forces (S/1994/583, annex I) and/or for humanitarian aspects, including demining, as specified by donors. “The Security Council requests the Secretary-General to continue to keep it closely informed of the situation.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/1997/25. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.