UNITED NATIONS
Security Council

S
Distr. GENERAL S/RES/896 (1994) 31 January 1994

RESOLUTION 896 (1994)

Adopted by the Security Council at its 3332nd meeting, on 31 January 1994
The Security Council,
Reaffirming its resolutions 849 (1993) of 9 July 1993, 854 (1993) of 6 August 1993, 858 (1993) of 24 August 1993, 876 (1993) of 19 October 1993, 881 (1993) of 4 November 1993 and 892 (1993) of 22 December 1993,
Also reaffirming its resolution 868 (1993) of 29 September 1993 concerning the security of United Nations operations,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 25 January 1994 concerning the situation in Abkhazia, Republic of Georgia (S/1994/80 and Add.1),
Welcoming the Communiqué on the second round of negotiations between the Georgian and Abkhaz sides signed in Geneva on 13 January 1994 (S/1994/32), recalling the Memorandum of Understanding signed in Geneva on 1 December 1993 (S/26875), and emphasizing the importance of implementation by the parties of the obligations to which they have committed themselves,
Taking note that the parties, in the Communiqué, state that they continue to favour the deployment in the zone of conflict of United Nations peace-keeping forces or other forces, subject to authorization by the United Nations,
Taking note also of the next expert level talks to be held between the parties in Moscow on 8 February 1994 and of the intention of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General to convene a new round of negotiations in Geneva on 22 February 1994,
Recognizing the grave situation in the Republic of Georgia created by the presence of almost 300,000 persons displaced from Abkhazia,
Noting again the conclusions of the ministerial meeting of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) held in Rome on 30 November and 1 December 1993 (S/26843), and welcoming the continuing cooperation between the United Nations and the CSCE in this matter,

94-05527 (E)

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1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General of 25 January 1994;
2. Welcomes the continued efforts of the Secretary-General and his Special Envoy, in cooperation with the Chairman-in-Office of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) and with the assistance of the Government of the Russian Federation as facilitator, to carry forward the peace process with the aim of achieving an overall political settlement, and welcomes in particular the progress achieved so far;
3. Urges the parties to resume the negotiations as soon as possible and to demonstrate stronger willingness to achieve progress towards a comprehensive political settlement;
4. Calls upon all concerned to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Georgia, and stresses the importance it attaches to such respect;
5. Stresses that substantive progress must be made immediately on the political status of Abkhazia, respecting fully the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Georgia, if the negotiations are to succeed and further conflict is to be avoided;
6. Approves the continuation of UNOMIG's mandate until 7 March 1994 within the numbers authorized in resolution 892 (1993);
7. Declares its readiness, within this period, to consider promptly any recommendation from the Secretary-General to further increase the strength of UNOMIG up to the limit specified in resolution 858 (1993) should the SecretaryGeneral so recommend;
8. Takes note of the options described by the Secretary-General in his report (S/1994/80) for possible establishment of a peace-keeping operation in Abkhazia, Republic of Georgia;
9. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council immediately following the third round of negotiations between the parties on progress, if any, made in the negotiations and on the situation on the ground, with special attention to circumstances which might warrant a peace-keeping force and on the modalities for such a force;
10. Underlines the importance of substantive progress towards a political settlement at the next round of negotiations for further consideration by the Council of possible establishment of a peace-keeping force in Abkhazia, Republic of Georgia;
11. Recognizes the right of all refugees and displaced persons affected by the conflict to return, without preconditions, to their homes in secure conditions, calls upon the parties to honour the commitments they have already made in this regard, and urges the parties to come to an expeditious agreement, including a binding timetable, that would assure the rapid return of these refugees and displaced persons in secure conditions;
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12. Condemns any attempts to change the demographic composition of Abkhazia, Republic of Georgia, including by repopulating it with persons not previously resident there;
13. Calls upon the parties to comply fully with the cease-fire to which they have committed themselves;
14. Urges the parties to take all steps necessary to ensure the security of UNOMIG personnel and welcomes the readiness of the Russian Federation to assist them in this regard;
15. Encourages donor States to assist the Republic of Georgia to enable it to overcome the consequences of the conflict and to make contributions in response to the United Nations humanitarian appeal;
16. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.
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