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UNOMIG
was originally established on 24 August 1993 by Security Council
resolution 858
(1993) to verify compliance with the 27 July 1993 ceasefire
agreement between the Government of Georgia and the Abkhaz authorities
in Georgia with special attention to the situation in the city of
Sukhumi; to investigate reports of ceasefire violations and to attempt
to resolve such incidents with the parties involved; and to report
to the Secretary-General on the implementation of its mandate, including,
in particular, violations of the ceasefire agreement. The authorized
strength of the Mission was 88 military observers.
After UNOMIG's
original mandate had been invalidated by the resumed fighting in
Abkhazia in September 1993, the Mission was given an interim mandate,
by Security Council resolution 881
(1993) of 4 November 1993, to maintain contacts with both sides
to the conflict and with Russian military contingent, and to monitor
and report on the situation, with particular reference to developments
relevant to United Nations efforts to promote a comprehensive political
settlement. Following the signing, in May 1994, by the Georgian
and Abkhaz sides of the Agreement on a Ceasefire and Separation
of Forces, the Security Council, by its resolution 937
(1994) of 27 July 1994, authorized the increase in UNOMIG's
strength to up to 136 military observers and decided that the mandate
of an expanded Mission shall be as follows:
- To monitor
and verify the implementation by the parties of the Agreement on
a Ceasefire and Separation of Forces signed in Moscow on 14 May
1994;
- To observe
the operation of the peacekeeping force of the Commonwealth of
Independent States (CIS) within the framework of the implementation
of the Agreement;
- To verify,
through observation and patrolling, that troops of the parties
do not remain in or re-enter the security zone and that heavy
military equipment does not remain or is not reintroduced in the
security zone or the restricted weapons zone;
- To monitor
the storage areas for heavy military equipment withdrawn from
the security zone and the restricted weapons zone in cooperation
with the CIS peacekeeping force as appropriate;
- To monitor
the withdrawal of troops of the Republic of Georgia from the Kodori
Valley to places beyond the boundaries of Abkhazia, Republic of
Georgia;
- To patrol
regularly the Kodori Valley;
- To investigate,
at the request of either party or the CIS peacekeeping force or
on its own initiative, reported or alleged violations of the Agreement
and to attempt to resolve or contribute to the resolution of such
incidents;
- To report
regularly to the Secretary-General within its mandate, in particular
on the implementation of the Agreement, any violations and their
investigation by UNOMIG, as well as other relevant developments;
- To maintain
close contacts with both parties to the conflict and to cooperate
with the CIS peacekeeping force and, by its presence in the area,
to contribute to conditions conducive to the safe and orderly
return of refugees and displaced persons.
A United
Nations office for the protection and promotion of human rights
in Abkhazia, Georgia, was established on 10 December 1996 in
accordance with Security Council resolution 1077
(1996) of 22 October 1996.It is jointly staffed by the Office
of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The Human Rights
Office forms part of UNOMIG and reports to the High Commissioner
for Human Rights through the Head of Mission of UNOMIG.
By resolution
1494 (2003) of 30 July 2003, the Council endorsed the recommendations
by the Secretary-General that "a UN police component of 20
officers be added to UNOMIG, to strengthen its capacity to carry
out its mandate and in particular contribute to the creation of
conditions conducive to the safe and dignified return of internally
displaced persons and refugees".
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