'Substantive progress' towards conflict settlement urged.

• Position: Abkhazia regional conflict with Black Sea nation of Georgia

The Security Council on 25 April, in noting with deep concern the "continued failure of the parties to achieve a comprehensive political settlement" of the conflict in Abkhazia--a small Black Sea region of Georgia--called upon them, in particular the Abkhaz side, to "achieve substantive progress without further delay".

In a statement (S/PRST/1996/20) by Council President Juan Somavia of Chile, it also noted the "adverse impact" of this failure on the humanitarian situation and economic development in the region, and stressed that the primary responsibility for achieving a comprehensive political settlement "rests upon the parties themselves".

The Council noted the important contribution of the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG), established under resolution 858 (1993) of 24 August 1993, and the Collective Peace-Keeping Forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to the stabilization of the situation in the zone of conflict.

Deep concern was expressed at the deterioration in security conditions in the Gali region, which had a negative effect on UNOMIG's ability to meet its mandated tasks. The Council condemned mine laying in that region, which had resulted in loss of life, including the 9 March killing of Lt. Col. Muhammed Hussain of Bangladesh, a UNOMIG military observer. "Such mine laying should cease", it stated.

While expressing its support for the Secretary-General's efforts to find ways of improving the observance of human rights in the region, the Council remained "deeply concerned at the continued obstruction of the return of the refugees and displaced persons by the Abkhaz authorities", which was "totally unacceptable".

Stalemate continues

Despite many months of vigorous efforts and intensive negotiations by the Russian Federations as facilitator, neither side had signed the draft protocol on the principal elements of a settlement of the Abkhaz conflict, "mainly because of continued disagreement over the political status of Abkhazia", Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali reported (S/1996/284) on 15 April. "While this stalemate continues, there can be no significant improvement in the situation of...