United Nations Security Council Resolution 1582
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1582, adopted unanimously on January 28, 2005, after reaffirming all resolutions on Abkhazia
and Georgia
, particularly Resolution 1554
(2004), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia
(UNOMIG) until July 31, 2005.
Georgia's attendance at the meeting was opposed by Russia
, and therefore the former was not present.
(CIS) peacekeeping forces in the region were welcomed, in addition to the United Nations-led peace process.
and Sukhumi
" to facilitate negotiations between Georgia and Abkhazia. It regretted the lack of progress on political status negotiations and the refusal of Abkhazia to discuss the document, further calling on both sides to overcome their mutual mistrust. The Council's position on elections in Abkhazia, described in 1255
(1999), was reaffirmed. All violations of the 1994 Agreement on a Cease-fire and Separation of Forces
were condemned. The Council also welcomed the calm in the Kodori Valley
and the signing of a protocol by both parties on April 2, 2002. Concerns of the civilian population were noted and the Georgian side was asked to guarantee the safety of UNOMIG and CIS troops in the valley. Greater efforts to improve security in the Gali region were encouraged.
The resolution urged the two parties to revitalise the peace process, including greater participation on issues relating to refugee
s, internally displaced person
s, economic co-operation and political and security matters. It also reaffirmed the unacceptability of demographic changes resulting from the conflict. Abkhazia in particular was called upon to improve law enforcement, address the lack of instruction to ethnic Georgians in their first language
and ensure the safety of returning refugees.
The Council called again on both parties to take measures to identify those responsible for the shooting down of an UNOMIG helicopter in October 2001. Both parties were also asked to dissociate themselves from military rhetoric and demonstrations in support of illegal armed groups, and ensure the safety of United Nations personnel. Furthermore, there were concerns about the security of UNOMIG personnel, with repeated abductions of UNOMIG and CIS peacekeeping personnel, which the Council condemned.
Finally, the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
was asked to report on the situation in Abkhazia within three months.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1582, adopted unanimously on January 28, 2005, after reaffirming all resolutions on Abkhazia
Abkhazia
Abkhazia is a disputed political entity on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus.Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny...
and Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
, particularly Resolution 1554
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1554
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1554, adopted unanimously on July 29, 2004, after reaffirming all resolutions on Abkhazia and Georgia, particularly Resolution 1524 , the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia until January 31,...
(2004), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia
United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia
The United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia was established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 858 in August 1993 to verify compliance with a 27 July 1993 ceasefire agreement between the Republic of Georgia and forces in Abkhazia with special attention given to the situation in the...
(UNOMIG) until July 31, 2005.
Georgia's attendance at the meeting was opposed by Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, and therefore the former was not present.
Observations
In the preamble of the resolution, the Security Council stressed that the lack of progress on a settlement between the two parties was unacceptable. It condemned the shooting down of an UNOMIG helicopter in October 2001 which resulted in nine deaths and deplored that the perpetrators of the attack had not been identified. The contributions of UNOMIG and Commonwealth of Independent StatesCommonwealth of Independent States
The Commonwealth of Independent States is a regional organization whose participating countries are former Soviet Republics, formed during the breakup of the Soviet Union....
(CIS) peacekeeping forces in the region were welcomed, in addition to the United Nations-led peace process.
Acts
The Security Council welcomed political efforts to resolve the situation, in particular the "Basic Principles for the Distribution of Competences between TbilisiTbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
and Sukhumi
Sukhumi
Sukhumi is the capital of Abkhazia, a disputed region on the Black Sea coast. The city suffered heavily during the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict in the early 1990s.-Naming:...
" to facilitate negotiations between Georgia and Abkhazia. It regretted the lack of progress on political status negotiations and the refusal of Abkhazia to discuss the document, further calling on both sides to overcome their mutual mistrust. The Council's position on elections in Abkhazia, described in 1255
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1255
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1255, adopted unanimously on July 30, 1999, after reaffirming all resolutions on Georgia, particularly Resolution 1225 , the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia until January 31, 2000.The Security Council...
(1999), was reaffirmed. All violations of the 1994 Agreement on a Cease-fire and Separation of Forces
Agreement on a Cease-fire and Separation of Forces
The Agreement on a Cease-fire and Separation of Forces was signed by parties to the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict in Moscow on 14 May 1994. Also known as the 1994 Moscow Agreement, it was witnessed by United Nations, Russian Federation and Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe...
were condemned. The Council also welcomed the calm in the Kodori Valley
Kodori Valley
The Kodori Valley is a river valley in Abkhazia, Georgia's breakaway autonomous republic. The valley's upper part, populated by Svans, was the only corner of the post-1993 Abkhazia, directly controlled by the central Georgian government, which officially styles the area as Upper Abkhazia...
and the signing of a protocol by both parties on April 2, 2002. Concerns of the civilian population were noted and the Georgian side was asked to guarantee the safety of UNOMIG and CIS troops in the valley. Greater efforts to improve security in the Gali region were encouraged.
The resolution urged the two parties to revitalise the peace process, including greater participation on issues relating to refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s, internally displaced person
Internally displaced person
An internally displaced person is someone who is forced to flee his or her home but who remains within his or her country's borders. They are often referred to as refugees, although they do not fall within the current legal definition of a refugee. At the end of 2006 it was estimated there were...
s, economic co-operation and political and security matters. It also reaffirmed the unacceptability of demographic changes resulting from the conflict. Abkhazia in particular was called upon to improve law enforcement, address the lack of instruction to ethnic Georgians in their first language
First language
A first language is the language a person has learned from birth or within the critical period, or that a person speaks the best and so is often the basis for sociolinguistic identity...
and ensure the safety of returning refugees.
The Council called again on both parties to take measures to identify those responsible for the shooting down of an UNOMIG helicopter in October 2001. Both parties were also asked to dissociate themselves from military rhetoric and demonstrations in support of illegal armed groups, and ensure the safety of United Nations personnel. Furthermore, there were concerns about the security of UNOMIG personnel, with repeated abductions of UNOMIG and CIS peacekeeping personnel, which the Council condemned.
Finally, the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
was asked to report on the situation in Abkhazia within three months.
See also
- Georgian–Abkhazian conflict
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1501 to 1600 (2003 – 2005)
- United Nations resolutions on AbkhaziaUnited Nations resolutions on Abkhazia220px|thumb|United Nations map of AbkhaziaThe Security Council of the United Nations passed 32 resolutions where it recognizes Abkhazia as an integral part of Georgia and supports its territorial integrity according to the principles of the international law...