Reports and Policy Documents

2009

• 22 sep 2009
  5th Meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism

  On 22 September 2009, the fifth meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM), chaired by the United Nations, was held in Gali.

  Participants continued their discussion concerning the movement of local school children attending schools in Zugdidi and Tsalenjikha districts since the beginning of the new school year on 14 September.  Whilst the situation appears overall satisfactory, some remaining questions will be addressed during the next IPRM meeting.

  Recent maritime incidents in the Black Sea and the recent Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly were also discussed in brief, as they had been addressed in more detail during the seventh round of the Geneva International Discussions, which took place on 17 September 2009.  On the issue of maritime incidents, participants agreed that the complex technical aspects of this matter are better addressed in the appropriate international fora.

  Participants also reviewed some recent incidents and provided advance notice of sensitive activities that may take place in the near future.

  The constructive engagement by all participants and their willingness to engage on substantive matters by sharing relevant information and clarifying outstanding issues contributed to a constructive and positive meeting.

  It was agreed that the next meeting of the IPRM would take place in Gali on 6 October 2009.

• 8 sep 2009
  4th Meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism

  On 8 September 2009, the fourth meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM), chaired by the United Nations, was held in Gali.

  Participants addressed incidents in the period since their last meeting, including recent maritime incidents in the Black Sea.  On the latter, an in-depth discussion allowed participants to state their views, including on legal aspects, and they agreed that incidents with potential security consequences should be avoided.

  An exchange of views also took place with regard to the movement of local school children attending schools in Zugdidi and Tsalenjikha.  It was agreed, and indeed encouraged that ahead of the new school year relevant information on crossing procedures would be shared with the local population.

  Other specific incidents were also discussed.  Participants provided clarifying information on these and related matters.  They agreed that IPRM meetings should have a review of past incidents as a standing agenda item.

  It was agreed that the next meeting of the IPRM would take place in Gali on 22 September 2009.

• 11 aoû 2009
  3rd Meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism

  On 11 August 2009, the third meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM), chaired by the United Nations, was held in Gali.

  The meeting continued the discussion on some practical arrangements of work.  In light of the agreement reached in Geneva on 17-18 February 2009 on IPRMs, participants also discussed what should be considered an “incident”, and held an initial discussion on the terms of reference for “agreed joint visits”.  The meeting then addressed several substantive questions.

  On substantive matters, a brief assessment of the general security situation was given, and participants exchanged information and views on what they considered to be recent incidents.  Participants undertook to share relevant information, to the best of their knowledge, when addressing specific incidents.  An informative exchange of views took place with respect to the movement of local residents through crossing points and some suggestions were made, and discussed, in this regard.

  Despite divergent views on underlying political issues, all participants continued to engage constructively in the discussions.

  It was agreed that the next meeting of the IPRM would take place in Gali on 8 September 2009.

• 28 juil 2009
  2nd Meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism

  On 28 July 2009, the second meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism, chaired by the United Nations, was held in Gali.

  Today’s meeting continued the discussion of the first meeting on some questions regarding the practical organisation of work and the modalities of future meetings, and then moved on to address substantive questions.

  The practical arrangements for the establishment of a “hotline” to facilitate urgent contacts between participants were finalised.

  On substantive matters, both current and past incidents were discussed, as well as wider issues related to enhancing security in general.  The participants exchanged views and information on these matters and undertook to revert to some of the points during next meetings.

  As a measure of transparency and confidence building, it was agreed that the agenda for the IPRM meetings would include “advance notice of sensitive activities” as a standing item.

  As was already the case in the first meeting on 14 July 2009, participants engaged constructively in the discussion, thus contributing to what was again a productive meeting.

  It was agreed that the next meeting of the IPRM would take place in Gali on 11 August 2009.

• 14 juil 2009
  1st Meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism

  As agreed at the sixth round of the Geneva Discussions on 1 July 2009, the first consultative meeting under United Nations auspices of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism took place in Gali on 14 July 2009.

  With all participants present, this meeting addressed questions regarding the practical organisation of work and modalities of future meetings.

  All participants actively engaged on all points on the agenda, thus contributing to a good and productive meeting.

  Agreement was reached on all issues except one.  There was agreement on the periodicity of meetings, on the format of the meetings, on the working languages of the meetings, on the way summary conclusions of meetings will be drawn and the agenda will be set, on the chairmanship of the next meetings, and on the practical set-up of the “hotline”.  The only issue that will be further discussed at the next meeting is the locations where the meetings should be convened.

  As all participants agreed to meet on a bi-weekly basis, the next meeting under United Nations auspices will take place on 28 July 2009.  It was also agreed that this meeting will take place in Gali.