Statement [made on behalf of the Security Council, at the 4314th meeting, 24 Apr. 2001, in connection with the Council's consideration of the item entitled "The situation in Georgia"]

Underlines the decisive importance of early negotiations on the core political questions of the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia; strongly supports, in this context, the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to promote the achievement of a comprehensive political settlement based on the resolutions of the Security Council, which must include a settlement of the political status of Abkhazia within the State of Georgia; strongly supports, in particular, the intention of the Special Representative to submit, in the near future, his draft paper containing specific proposals to the parties on the question of the distribution of constitutional competences between Tbilisi and Sukhumi; welcomes the intention of the Special Representative to submit the draft paper to the parties soon, as a starting point for negotiation, and not as an attempt to impose or dictate any possible solution. It calls upon the parties constructively to accept the paper in this light and work towards a mutually acceptable settlement.

2 p.