Experiences from the Conflict between Georgia and Abhazia and the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia, UNOMIG.

摘要

The purpose of this document is to convey some personal impressions and experiences from the conflict between Georgia and Abhazia, and from the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia. The text is based on the author's experiences from one-year service as a Military Observer, from August 1998 until July 1999. Developments after this time may have changed the situation. The armed conflict between Georgia and the Abhazian region started in 1992. Abhazia, dominated by ethnic Abhaz people, tries to gain independence from Georgia. Despite an agreement between the belligerents on a cease-fire and separation of forces reached in 1994, there are still more or less regular, serious violations against this agreement. The key issue to the conflict is the relationship between Georgia and Russia. The United Nations established an observer mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) in 1993. There are several weaknesses in the current mission; some of them are discussed in the text.