DECISION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CIS HEADS OF STATES on the presence of Collective Peace Keeping Forces in the Conflict zone of Abkhazia, Georgia

The Council of the Heads of States of the Commonwealth of Independent States decided:

1. To extend the term of presence and the mandate of the Collective Peace Keeping Forces in the conflict zone of Abkhazia, Georgia until 30 June 2002 or until one of the sides of the conflict will request the termination of the operation.

2. To approve the Mandate of the CIS PKF in the conflict zone of Abkhazia, Georgia from 1 January 2002 until this Decision comes into force.

3. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgian the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, with participation of the Headquarters on coordinating the military cooperation of the CIS member-states and in participation of the interim Operative Working Group of the CIS on regulating the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia, and in cooperation with the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General in Georgia Mr. D. Boden shall consider the following issues:

- on enlargement the security zone in Abkhazia, Georgia, in particular, through inclusion in to the security zone the Gali District (within the old boundaries), putting the limitation line along the river Mokvi;

- on elaboration of additional security measures for return of refugees and IDPs to their dwellings;

- on elaborating the plan of re-dislocation of the CPKF, introducing the relevant changes and additions to the Mandate of the CPKF and other measures related to the enlargement of the security zone.

The information on conclusions and proposals shall be submitted to the next meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the CIS.

4. With account of conclusions of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the CIS, the proposals shall be submitted to the Council of Heads of States of the CIS on extension or termination of operation of the CIS in the conflict zone of Abkhazia, Georgia.

5. To inform the Security Council of the UN on the given Decision of the Council of Heads of States of the CIS.

Done in Russian language according to the rule 6 of the Procedures of the Council of heads of States of the CIS. The original is kept at the Executive Committee of the CIS, which is to send the approved copies to each of the member states.

For the Republic of Azerbaijan For the Republic of Kazakhstan

A. Aliev 22 March 2002 N. Nazarbaev 1 February 2002

For the Republic of Armenia For the Republic of Kirgizstan

R. Kocharian 20 February 2002 A. Akaev 11 February 2002

For the Republic of Belarus For the Republic of Moldova

A. Lukasheno 1 March 2002 V. Voronin 15 February 2002

For Georgia For the Russian Federation

Shevardnadze 1 March 2002 V. Putin 8 February 2002

For the Republic of Uzbekistan For the Republic of Tajikistan

I. Karimov 22 March 2002 E. Rakhmanov 1 March 2002

For Ukraine For Turkmenistan

(Abkhaz Issue in Official Documents, Legislative and Executive organs of Georgia, International Organizations, 2000-2003, part III, authors: Vakhtang Kholbaia, Teimuraz Chakhrakia, Rafiel Gelantia, David Latsuzbaia, Tb., 2004, p. 244-245/in Georgian)