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SC/7052 |
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IN PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT, SECURITY COUNCIL SAYS LACK NEW YORK, 24 April (UN Headquarters) -- The continued lack of progress on key issues concerning a comprehensive settlement of the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia, was unacceptable, the Security Council stressed in a statement this afternoon. Adopting presidential statement S/2001/PRST/14, read out by Council President Sir Jeremy Greenstock (United Kingdom), the Council underlined the importance of early negotiations on the core political questions relating to the conflict. The Council welcomed the intention of the Secretary-General's Special Representative to submit a draft paper containing specific proposals on the distribution of constitutional competences between Tbilisi and Sukhumi as a starting point for negotiations. It called upon the parties to accept the paper and work towards a mutually acceptable settlement. Prior to today’s meeting, the Council was briefed in private by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in Georgia, Dieter Boden. The Minister for Special Affairs of Georgia and the representative of Sweden, speaking on behalf of the European Union, also participated in the Council’s private meeting. The Council met last on this issue on 21 March, when it adopted a presidential statement (see Press Release SC/7035 of 21 March). Today's meeting started at 1 p.m. and adjourned at 1:03 p.m. Presidential Statement Following is the full text of the statement by the President of the Security Council: "The Security Council welcomes the briefing provided by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, on 24 April 2001, in accordance with paragraph 16 of its resolution 1339 (2001) of 31 January 2001. It welcomes also the presence of the Minister for Special Affairs of Georgia at its meeting. "The Security Council stresses that the continued lack of progress on key issues of a comprehensive settlement of the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia, is unacceptable. It underlines the decisive importance of early negotiations on the core political questions of the conflict. It strongly supports, in this context, the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to promote the achievement of a comprehensive political settlement based on the resolutions of the Security Council, which must include a settlement of the political status of Abkhazia within the State of Georgia. "The Security Council strongly supports, in particular, the intention of the Special Representative to submit, in the near future, his draft paper containing specific proposals to the parties on the question of the distribution of constitutional competences between Tbilisi and Sukhumi. It calls on all those concerned to use their influence with a view to facilitating this process. "The Security Council welcomes the intention of the Special Representative to submit the draft paper to the parties soon, as a starting point for negotiation, and not as an attempt to impose or dictate any possible solution. It calls upon the parties constructively to accept the paper in this light and work towards a mutually acceptable settlement. "The Security Council will remain actively seized of the matter and reaffirms its commitment to advancing the peace process." * *** * |
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