Ad hoc high-level quadripartite meeting

On October 8, 2003, an ad hoc high-level meeting on security matters was convened by Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General Heidi Tagliavini in the UNOMIG Gali Sector Headquarters in the light of the aggravating security situation in the conflict zone, especially in the Gali district.

The Abkhazian delegation was headed by Foreign Minister Sergey Shamba. Chairman of the State Security Service Givi Agrba and Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Vitaly Darmava were members of the Abkhazian delegation as well. The Georgian delegation was headed by Minister for Emergency Affairs Malkhaz Kakabadze. Head of the Georgian External Intelligence Department Avtandil Ioseliany was also a member of it. The meeting was held with the participation of HQ Commander of the Russian Peacekeeping Forces Major-General Sergey Namokonov and UNOMIG Chief Military Observer Major-General Kazi Ashfaq.

The main item on the agenda was a discussion on the aggravating security situation in the conflict zone, especially in the Gali district, and measures aimed at preventing its escalation.

The meeting resulted in the protocol in which the Georgian and Abkhazian sides reiterated all security-related commitments, undertaken under previous documents, emphasizing the importance of UN Security Council resolutions, discussed further steps to improve the efficiency of existing mechanisms, and agreed to "cooperate and take immediate measures to stop criminal activities, irrespective of their character, that have a serious impact on security in the conflict zone".

Besides, the conflict parties are going to exchange lists of crimes that, according to them, have been committed in the conflict zone, especially in the Gali district.

The sides agreed to meet again on December 9, 2003 at the same high level in order to assess the progress made in their cooperation and to revise the improvement of the efficiency of existing mechanisms, such as quadripartite meetings, joint fact-finding groups and human rights activities within the framework of these mechanisms.