Doc. 9427

26 April 2002

Events of 12 April 2002 in Georgia

Written Declaration No. 339

This written declaration commits only the members who have signed it

Recently, there has been a serious deterioration in the situation in Georgia causing the undersigned deepest concern. This concerns in particular the deployment of the Russian military contingent, without the prior notification of UN observers and Georgian authorities, in the Kodori gorge, a part of Abkhazia (Georgia) the stability of which is crucial for maintaining the cease-fire in the conflict zone.

The undersigned, members of the Parliamentary Assembly, also express their deepest concern over the statement of the Russian State Duma made on 6 March 2002 about the possibility of support for the "statehood" of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as numerous declarations made by Russian officials contradicting obligations and commitments made by the Russian Federation and infringing the basic principles of the modern international community.

The undersigned ask the group responsible for monitoring the honouring of Russian commitments and obligations to pay special attention to Russian policies towards its neighbours, in general, and Georgia, in particular. They call upon the authorities of the Russian Federation to employ non-discriminatory and fair practices in pursuing their international relations.

Signed : (see overleaf)

Signed : 1

Zhvania, Georgia, SOC

Akhvlediani, Georgia, LDR

Atkinson, United Kingdom, EDG

Čekuolis, Lithuania, LDR

Davis, United Kingdom, SOC

Eörsi, Hungary, LDR

Goulet, France, EDG

Gross, Switzerland, SOC

Gürkan, Turkey, SOC

Holovaty, Ukraine, LDR

Jurgens, Netherlands, SOC

Kovalev S., Russia, LDR

Landsbergis, Lithuania, EDG

Lippelt, Germany, LDR

Patarkalishvili, Georgia, EPP

Severinsen, Denmark, LDR

Škrabalo, Croatia, LDR

Tepshi, Albania, EPP

Tevdoradze, Georgia, EDG

Zwerver, Netherlands, SOC

___________________

Total = 20

1        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR: Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group