Facts and Figures

Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG):
Mr. Jean Arnault (France)

SRSG's Headquarters: Tbilisi, Sukhumi
Tel.: (+995 32) 507 200
Fax: (+995 32) 507 207
E-mail: unomig-pio@un.org

Mailing Address:
UNOMIG
PO BOX 50, BRANCH #60
Main Post Office
Krtsanisi Street. 38 Tbilisi
380060
Georgia

• Head of the Mission (SRSG) - Mr. Jean Arnault
• Deputy Special Representative of the SG for Georgia - Mr. Ivo Petrov
• Chief Military Observer (CMO) - Major General Niaz Muhammad Khan Khattak
• Chief Administrative Officer(CAO) - Ms. Margaret Simon
• Head of Human Rights Office - Mr. Vladlen Stefanov
• Senior Police Adviser - Col. Oleksiy Telychkin
• Headquarters: Sukhumi
• Sectors: Gali and Zugdidi
• Separate Patrol: Kodori Valley
• Liaison Office: Tbilisi
• Military Observers: 133
• UNOMIG Police: 19

Mandate: UNOMIG was established by Security Council resolution 858 (August 1993). Its mandate includes: to monitor and verify the observance by the Georgian and Abkhaz sides of the Agreement on a Ceasefire and Separation of Forces of 1994; to observe the operation of the CIS peacekeeping force (CIS PKF) within the framework of the implementation of the Agreement; by its presence in the area, to contribute to conditions conducive to the safe and orderly return of refugees and displaced persons.

In 1996, following a special agreement reached by the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights with the Abkhaz authorities, and a relevant Security Council resolution, the UN Human Rights Office in Abkhazia, Georgia (HROAG) was opened in Sukhumi.

In resolution 1494 of 30 July 2003, the Security Council endorsed the recommendation by the Secretary-General that a civilian police component (UNOMIG Police) of 20 officers be added to UNOMIG to strengthen its capacity to carry out its mandate and in particular contribute to the creation of conditions conducive to the safe and dignified return of internally displaced persons and refugees. The mandate was last extended by resolution 1781 (15 October 2007) and will expire on 15 April 2008.

Operations: UNOMIG conducts daily patrols in the Gali and Zugdidi sectors. For security reasons, most of these patrols travel in mine-protected vehicles. In addition, UNOMIG military observers carry out joint patrols with the CIS PKF in the Kodori Valley. Patrols in the upper Kodori Valley have remained suspended since a hostage-taking incident there on 5 June 2003, while patrols in the lower Kodori Valley resumed in May 2004. However, on 12 October 2006, a joint UNOMIG/CIS PKF patrol was launched to the Upper Kodori Valley. The UNOMIG Police is engaged in monitoring, assisting, advising, equipping and training for local law enforcement agencies.

Negotiation process: Responding to the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia, the United Nations established its initial presence in the area in October 1992, and then the Secretary-General appointed his Special Envoy for Georgia, Amb. Eduard Brunner, in May 1993, who visited the area in efforts to bring the parties together in substantive negotiations on the future status of Abkhazia with full respect for the territorial integrity of Georgia.

In 1997, the Secretary-General Special Envoy was replaced by his Special Representative, Mr. Liviu Bota, who was residing in the area. In these peace efforts, the United Nations has been assisted by the Russian Federation, in its capacity as facilitator, as well as by the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General (Germany, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, and United States) and the OSCE. To facilitate such negotiations, the next Special Representative, Mr. Dieter Boden, with the support of the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General, prepared a paper entitled "Basic Principles for the Distribution of Competences between Tbilisi and Sukhumi". In resolution 1393 of 31 January 2002, the Security Council welcomed and supported the finalisation of the paper and of its letter of transmittal as positive elements for launching political negotiations between the sides. However, efforts to start political negotiations on this basis have not brought positive results.

In the meantime, the UN-led Coordinating Council's mechanism, which since 1997 addressed security problems, economic and social issues, and return of refugees and displaced persons practically, ceased its activities as well.

To break this stalemate, in February 2003, the UN Secretary-General convened a special high-level meeting of the Group of Friends in Geneva, chaired by the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations and supported by Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini who had been appointed the Special Representatives of the UN Secretary-General for Georgia in July 2002. The meeting resulted in new initiatives to move the peace process forward, and recommended to the sides the establishment of three task forces - on economic matters, on the return of IDPs/refugees, and on political and security matters. The recommendations that came out of this meeting and subsequent Geneva meetings now form the main framework through which the international community is assisting in resolving the conflict. Following the February 2003 Geneva meeting, Presidents of the Russian Federation and Georgia met in March 2003 in Sochi and agreed to establish three working groups dealing with the Inguri Hydroelectric Power Station, the rehabilitation of the railway and the return of IDPs/refugees. The activities of the Sochi working groups, in which UNOMIG also participates, complement the Geneva peace process.

On 15 May 2006, under the auspices of the UN and the chairmanship of SRSG Tagliavini, the resumed Coordinating Council of the Georgian and Abkhaz sides commenced its work.

In August 2006, the UN Secretary General appointed Mr. Jean Arnault as SRSG for Georgia.

Consultation mechanisms: In 1997, the Coordinating Council was established to promote cooperation between the parties. The Council has three Working Groups on: security issues, return of refugees and displaced persons, and social and economic issues. On the ground, there are weekly quadripartite meetings of local representatives of the parties in the conflict zone, the CIS PKF and UNOMIG to discuss operational issues, and the Joint Fact Finding Group which investigates politically motivated crimes.

Trust Fund Activities: To alleviate the suffering of the local conflict-affected population, and help create better conditions for the return of internally displaced persons and refugees, UNOMIG supports financially the restoration of basic public services and social rehabilitation through a number of activities, including the Quick Impact Finance Projects (QIP) in the Gali and Zugdidi districts.

Observer contributing countries: Albania, Austria, Bangladesh, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay.

Police contributing countries: Czech Republic, Germany, Ghana, Philippines, Poland, Russian Federation, Sweden, Switzerland, and Ukraine.

Last Updated on 18 October, 2007 15:33:11