The Security Council,
Recalling all its relevant resolutions including resolution 1752 of 13 April 2007 (S/RES/1752),
Welcoming the reports of the Secretary-General on the activities of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) of 18 July 2007 (S/2007/439) and 4 October 2007 (S/2007/588),
Noting with serious concern all recent armed incidents that have afflicted the conflict resolution process in Georgia, deploring in particular those in which lives were lost, and reiterating the importance of maintaining the separation of forces and the preservation of the ceasefire,
Supporting the sustained efforts of the Secretary-General and of his Special Representative with the assistance of the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General, as well as the Russian Federation in its capacity as facilitator and of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), underlining the increased importance of the meetings in the Geneva format as the forum for meaningful political dialogue,
Stressing the importance of close and effective cooperation between UNOMIG and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) peacekeeping force as they currently play an important stabilizing role in the conflict zone, and recalling that a lasting and comprehensive settlement of the conflict will require appropriate security guarantees,
Stressing that economic development is urgently required in Abkhazia, Georgia, to improve the livelihoods of the communities affected by the conflict, in particular refugees and internally displaced persons,
Regretting the continued lack of trust between the two sides, and underlining the importance of constructive goodwill and respect for each other’s concerns,
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. Reaffirms its strong support for UNOMIG, calls upon the parties to cooperate fully with the mission, deems it necessary to strengthen the mission’s observation capacity as recommended by UNOMIG in the Joint Fact-Finding Group Report on The Rocket-Firing Incident in the upper Kodori valley on 11 March 2007, as well as in the Secretary-General’s report S/2007/588 of 4 October 2007, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to explore options for the implementation of those recommendations and to inform the Council on progress;
3. Calls on the Georgian side to ensure that the situation in the upper Kodori valley is in line with the Moscow agreement on ceasefire and separation of forces of 14 May 1994; and calls on the Abkhaz side to exercise restraint in connection with the Georgian commitments with regard to the Kodori valley;
4. Expresses its serious concern with the ongoing numerous violations of the ceasefire and separation of forces regime in the zone of conflict;
5. Expresses serious concern over the incidents that have taken place within and outside the zone of conflict, as observed by UNOMIG and reflected in the reports of the Secretary-General of 18 July and 4 October 2007, including those on 11 March 2007 and 20 September 2007;
6. Strongly urges all parties to consider and address seriously each other’s legitimate security concerns, to refrain from any acts of violence or provocation, including political action or rhetoric, and to comply fully with previous agreements regarding ceasefire and non-use of violence;
7. Calls on both sides to finalize without delay the document on the non-use of violence; and calls on both sides to finalize without delay the document on the return of refugees and internally displaced persons;
8. Urges the continued active engagement of both sides within the Joint Fact-Finding Group and, in this context, expressing its support for the Joint Fact-Finding Group Report on The Rocket-Firing Incident in the upper Kodori valley on 11 March 2007, and endorses the recommendations made by UNOMIG in the report;
9. Welcomes the commitment given by both sides during the meeting chaired by the United Nations in Bonn on 27 and 28 June 2007 to resume regular consultations within the quadripartite meetings, and urges both sides to finally fulfil this commitment;