Statement / by the President of the Security Council

Statement [made on behalf of the Security Council, at the 4137th meeting, 11 May 2000, in connection with the Council's consideration of the item entitled "The situation in Georgia"]

Welcomes the efforts by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to enhance contacts at all levels between the Georgian and Abkhaz sides, and calls upon the parties to continue to expand such contacts; calls upon the parties to finalize their work on and to sign a draft agreement on peace and guarantees for the prevention of armed confrontation and a draft protocol on the return of refugees to the Gali region and measures for economic rehabilitation; notes with deep concern the continued failure of the parties to achieve a comprehensive political settlement, which includes a settlement on the political status of Abkhazia within the State of Georgia; calls upon the parties to display the political will required for a breakthrough and to spare no efforts in order to achieve substantive progress without further delay; joins the Secretary-General in encouraging the parties to be ready to consider proposals, based on the Security Council decisions, to be presented in due course by the Special Representative on the question of the distribution of constitutional competences between Tbilisi and Sukhumi; regrets that the Protocol of 3 Feb. 2000 has not been implemented in full and, in particular, that the withdrawal of illegal armed groups has not been brought about; calls on the parties to refrain from any actions which could increase tensions on the ground and to ensure the safety of the UN Observer Mission in Georgia personnel.

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Statement made on behalf of the Security Council at the 4137th meeting, 11 May 2000.