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Security Council extends Georgia Observer Mission until 31 January 2006, unanimously adopting resolution 1615 (2005).

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M2 PRESSWIRE-29 July 2005-UN: Security Council extends Georgia Observer Mission until 31 January 2006, unanimously adopting resolution 1615 (2005)(C)1994-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

RDATE:29072005

The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG), which was to expire on 31 July, for a further six months, until 31 January 2006.

Unanimously adopting resolution 1615 (2005), the Council, while reaffirming the independence and territorial integrity of Georgia and the necessity to define the status of Abkhazia within the State of Georgia, deeply regretted the continued refusal of the Abkhaz side to agree to a discussion on the substance of the "Basic Principles for the Distribution of Competences between Tbilisi and Sukhumi", and again strongly urged the Abkhaz side to receive the document and its transmittal letter. It also regretted the lack of progress on the initiation of political status negotiations.

The Council called on the parties to spare no efforts to overcome their ongoing mutual mistrust and underlined that negotiations towards a lasting political settlement acceptable to both sides would require concessions from both sides. It also called on both parties to publicly dissociate themselves from all militant rhetoric and demonstrations of support for military options and to take concrete steps to revitalize the peace process in all its major aspects.

The Council further called for the rapid finalization and signature of the letter of intent on returns [of refugees and internally displaced persons] proposed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, recalling that the Abkhaz side bears a particular responsibility to protect the returnees.

Reiterating its concern that, despite the start of the deployment of a civilian police component as part of UNOMIG, the deployment of the remaining officers in the Gali sector is still outstanding, the Council called on the Abkhaz side to allow for a swift deployment of the police component in the region. It further called on the Abkhaz side to improve law enforcement involving the local population and to address the lack of instruction in their mother tongue for the ethnic Georgian population.

The Council called on the Georgian side to provide comprehensive security guarantees to allow for independent and regular monitoring of the situation in the upper Kodori valley by joint UNOMIG and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) peacekeeping force patrols.

The Council regretted the cancellation of the meeting on security guarantees planned for July, but welcomed the signing on 12 May of a Protocol with measures to strengthen implementation of the 1994 Moscow agreement on ceasefire and separation of forces, as well as the positive developments towards the reopening of the railways between Sochi and Tbilisi and towards...

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