Security Council resolution 1716 (2006) [on settlement of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict and extension of the mandate of the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG)]
Symbol: S/RES/1716(2006)
Date: 2006-10-13
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/61 [87] GEORGIA SITUATION
S/61 [88] UN OBSERVER MISSION IN GEORGIA
Subjects: Friends of the Secretary-General on Georgia|UN. Security Council > Resolutions and decisions|Commonwealth of Independent States Collective Peace-keeping Forces|UN Observer Mission in Georgia|UN. Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Georgia and Head of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia|Basic Principles for the Distribution of Competencies between Tbilisi and Sukhumi|Agreement on a Cease-fire and Separation of Forces [in Georgia] (1994)|PEACEMAKING|INTERNAL SECURITY|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|ABKHAZIA (GEORGIA)|GEORGIA|GEORGIA SITUATION|DISPUTE SETTLEMENT|SOVEREIGNTY|PRINCIPLES|NEGOTIATION|CEASEFIRES|TREATY COMPLIANCE|NON-VIOLENCE|CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES|REPATRIATION|DISPLACED PERSONS|GEORGIAN REFUGEES|HUMAN RIGHTS|LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION|CIVILIAN PERSONS|CIVIL SOCIETY|PUBLIC WELFARE|ECONOMIC COOPERATION|WORKING GROUPS|PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE|FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT|INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS|GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE|CODES OF CONDUCT|TROOP-CONTRIBUTING STATES|CRIME PREVENTION|MILITARY DISCIPLINE|TRAINING PROGRAMMES|ACCOUNTABILITY|REPORT PREPARATION
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: ARGENTINA
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: CONGO
vote: yes
country: DENMARK
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GHANA
vote: yes
country: GREECE
vote: yes
country: JAPAN
vote: yes
country: PERU
vote: yes
country: QATAR
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SLOVAKIA
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                  S/RES/1716 (2006)
               Security Council                                                Distr.: General
                                                                               13 October 2006




               Resolution 1716 (2006)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 5549th meeting, on
               13 October 2006

                    The Security Council,
                    Recalling all its relevant resolutions, in particular resolution 1666 of 31 March
               2006 (S/RES/1666),
                    Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the United
               Nations Observer Mission in Georgia of 28 September 2006,
                     Supporting the sustained efforts of the Secretary-General and of his Special
               Representative with the assistance of the Russian Federation in its capacity as
               facilitator, as well as of the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General and of the
               OSCE,
                     Regretting the continued lack of progress on key issues of a comprehensive
               settlement of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict,
                     Acknowledging with concern the observation of the Secretary-General that a
               new and tense situation has emerged between the Georgian and the Abkhaz sides, in
               particular as a result of the Georgian special operation in the upper Kodori Valley,
                    1.    Reaffirms the commitment of all Member States to the sovereignty,
               independence and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally
               recognized borders, and supports all efforts by the United Nations and the Group of
               Friends of the Secretary-General which are guided by their determination to
               promote a settlement of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict only by peaceful means and
               within the framework of the Security Council resolutions;
                     2.   Recalls, with a view to achieving a lasting and comprehensive settlement,
               its support for the principles contained in the “Paper on Basic Principles for the
               Distribution of Competencies between Tbilisi and Sukhumi” and welcomes
               additional ideas that the sides would be willing to offer with a view to conducting
               creatively and constructively a political dialogue under the aegis of the United
               Nations;
                    3.    Having in mind the relevant Security Council resolutions containing an
               appeal to both sides to refrain from any action that might impede the peace process,
               expresses its concern with regard to the actions of the Georgian side in the Kodori
               Valley in July 2006, and to all violations of the Moscow agreement on ceasefire and

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               separation of forces of 14 May 1994, and other Georgian-Abkhaz agreements
               concerning the Kodori Valley;
                    4.     Urges the Georgian side to ensure that the situation in the upper Kodori
               Valley is in line with the Moscow agreement and that no troops unauthorized by this
               agreement are present;
                     5.    Notes with satisfaction the resumption of joint patrols in the upper
               Kodori Valley by UNOMIG and the CIS peacekeeping force and reaffirms that such
               joint patrols should be conducted on a regular basis;
                     6.   Urges both parties to comply fully with previous agreements and
               understandings regarding ceasefire, non-use of violence and confidence-building
               measures, and stresses the need to strictly observe the Moscow Agreement on
               Ceasefire and the Separation of Forces in the air, on the sea and on land, including
               in the Kodori Valley;
                    7.    Acknowledges the important role of the CIS peacekeeping force and of
               UNOMIG in the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict zone, stresses the importance of close
               and effective cooperation between UNOMIG and the CIS peacekeeping force as
               they currently play a stabilizing role in the conflict zone, looks to all sides to
               continue to extend the necessary cooperation to them and recalls that a lasting and
               comprehensive settlement of the conflict will require appropriate security
               guarantees;
                     8.   Once again urges the Georgian side to address seriously legitimate
               Abkhaz security concerns, to avoid steps which could be seen as threatening and to
               refrain from militant rhetoric and provocative actions, especially in upper Kodori
               Valley;
                     9.   Urges the Abkhaz leadership to address seriously the need for a dignified
               return of IDPs and refugees, including their security and human rights concerns,
               publicly reassure the local population, particularly in the Gali district, that their
               residency rights and identity will be respected, and move without delay on
               implementing past commitments relating to United Nations police advisers, a United
               Nations human rights sub-office and the language of instruction;
                    10. Urges both parties to finalize without delay the package of documents on
               the non-use of violence and on the return of refugees and internally displaced
               persons for the Gali district and to undertake necessary steps to secure the
               protection and dignity of the civilian population including the returnees;
                    11. Commends the presentation by both sides of ideas as a basis for dialogue
               and calls on the two sides to resume this dialogue by using all existing mechanisms
               as described in the relevant Security Council resolutions in order to come to a
               peaceful settlement;
                    12. Calls on both parties to follow up on their expressed readiness for a
               meeting of their highest authorities without preconditions and to maintain open
               channels of communication to build confidence, and encourages further contacts
               between representatives of civil society;
                    13. Calls on the Secretary-General to explore with the sides ways and means
               to build confidence, in particular by improving welfare and security of the
               inhabitants of Gali and Zugdidi districts;



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                 14. Supports all efforts by the Georgian and Abkhaz sides to engage
           constructively in economic cooperation as envisaged in the Geneva meetings and
           complemented by the working groups established in Sotchi in March 2003,
           including, security conditions permitting, the rehabilitation of infrastructure, and
           welcomes the intention expressed by Germany to host a meeting on economic
           cooperation and confidence-building measures, pending progress in the conflict
           resolution process;
                 15. Underlines that it is the primary responsibility of both sides to provide
           appropriate security and to ensure the freedom of movement of UNOMIG, the CIS
           peacekeeping force and other international personnel and calls on both sides to fulfil
           their obligations in this regard;
                16. Welcomes the efforts being undertaken by UNOMIG to implement the
           Secretary-General’s zero tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and to
           ensure full compliance of its personnel with the United Nations code of conduct,
           requests the Secretary-General to continue to take all necessary action in this regard
           and to keep the Security Council informed, and urges troop-contributing countries to
           take appropriate preventive action including the conduct of predeployment
           awareness training, and to take disciplinary action and other action to ensure full
           accountability in cases of such conduct involving their personnel;
                17. Decides to extend the mandate of UNOMIG for a new period terminating
           on 15 April 2007;
                 18. Requests the Secretary-General to include detailed information on
           developments in the Kodori Valley and on the progress on efforts for return of
           refugees and IDPs particularly to the Gali district into his next report on the
           situation in Abkhazia, Georgia;
                19. Strongly supports the efforts of the Special Representative of the
           Secretary-General and calls on the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General to
           continue giving him their steadfast and unified support;
                20.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.




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