Serving On Mission
Georgia
Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia
Capital: Tbilisi
Population: 4,646,003 (July 2007 est.)
The region of present-day Georgia contained the ancient kingdoms of Colchis and Kartli-Iberia. The area came under Roman influence in the first centuries A.D. and Christianity became the state religion in the 330s. Domination by Persians, Arabs, and Turks was followed by a Georgian golden age (11th-13th centuries) that was cut short by the Mongol invasion of 1236. Subsequently, the Ottoman and Persian empires competed for influence in the region. Georgia was absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Independent for three years (1918-1921) following the Russian revolution, it was forcibly incorporated into the USSR until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. An attempt by the incumbent Georgian government to manipulate national legislative elections in November 2003 touched off widespread protests that led to the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, president since 1995. New elections in early 2004 swept Mikheil SAAKASHVILI into power along with his National Movement party. Progress on market reforms and democratization has been made in the years since independence, but this progress has been complicated by two civil conflicts in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. These two territories remain outside the control of the central government and are ruled by de facto, unrecognized governments, supported by Russia. Russian-led peacekeeping operations continue in both regions. The Georgian Government put forward a new peace initiative for the peaceful resolution of the status of South Ossetia in 2005.
UNOMIG’s Mandate
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 21 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:
1. 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;
2. To observe the operation of the peacekeeping force of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) within the framework of the implementation of the Agreement;
3. 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;
4. 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;
5. 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;
6. To patrol regularly the Kodori Valley;
7. 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;
8. 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;
9. 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.
The United Nations office for the protection and promotion of human rights in Abkhazia, Georgia (HROAG) , 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.
Most recently the mandate of UNOMIG was extended until 15 October 2008 by Security Council resolution 1808 (15 April 2008).
UNOMIG Contact Information
TBILISI
Tbilisi Headquarters
Phone: (+995 32) 926 700
Address: 38 Krtsanisi Street, 380060 Tbilisi
E-mail: Public Information Office
unomig-pio@un.org
Working hours: 10:00 – 18:00 Monday to Friday
UNOMIG Police
PO BOX 50, BRANCH #60
Main Post Office
Krtsanisi Street. 38 Tbilisi, 380060
Phone: 1-212-96 3-9566 + D/Tone – Ext. 5015 / 5505
E-mail: unomig-scivpol@un.org
unomig-zcivpol@un.org
SUKHUMI
Sukhumi Headquarters
Phone: 24066/24069 (switchboard)
Address: Kodorskoe Street, Hotel “Aitar”
E-mail: unomig-mio@un.org (Military Information Office)
Working hours: 09:00 – 17:00 Monday to Friday
Civil and Military Cooperation Office in Sukhumi (CIMIC)
Senior CIMIC (Civilian and Military Cooperation) Officer
Phone: 4760 or 6495 (UNOMIG extension)
Mobile: +995 139 70218
E-mail: unomig-cimic@un.org
Human Rights Office in Abkhazia, Georgia (HROAG) Sukhumi Office
Phone: 24564
Address: Gulia Street 24
E-mail: hroag@un.org
Working hours: 11:00 – 15:00 Monday, Tuesday and Thursday
GALI
Gali Headquarters
Phone: 32800 (or through Sukhumi switchboard 24066/24069)
Address: Sakartvelo Street 1
E-mail: unomig-gmio@un.org (Military Information Office)
Senior Civil and Military Information (CIMIC) Officer in Gali
Phone: 4760 or 6495 (UNOMIG extension)
Mobile: +995 139 72231
E-mail: unomig-cimic@un.org
ZUGDIDI
Zugdidi Headquarters
Phone: 50041/50042 (or through Sukhumi switchboard 24066/24069)
Address: Dgebuadze Street 25
E-mail: unomig-zmio@un.org (Military Information Office)
Civil and Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Officer in Zugdidi
Phone: 5692 or 6659 (UNOMIG extension)
E-mail: unomig-cimic@un.org
Mobile: +995 (8) 99 979958
Mailing Address:
UNOMIG Public Information Office
PO BOX 50, BRANCH #60
Main Post Office
Krtsanisi Street. 38
Tbilisi 380060
Georgia
(source)
