United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia
v.1.0 March 9, 2003
Source: http://www.unomig.org
This peacekeeping mission was set up in 1993 and began operations in 1994. Its objective is to ensure compliance with 12-km restricted zone between Akhbazia and Georgia, and to monitor the CIS peacekeeping force in Georgia. The CIF force is composed exclusively of Russian Federation troops, approximately 1700 in early 2003, with HQ at Sukhumi. UNOMIG maintains headquarters in Akhbazia and in Georgia.
Mission strength114 military observers in January 2003; more usually 106
95 civilians
195 local civilians
Chief Military ObserverMajor General Kazi Ashfaq Ahmed [Bangladesh]
Equipment2 helicopters [a third induction is on hold]
38 Mine Protected Vehicles [25 Scout and 13 Nyala]
Liaison Office [Political Office]: Tbilisi
- Special representative of the Secretary General is headquartered here.
- 13 international civilians, 18 local civilians, 3 military observers.
Military HQ: Sukhumi [Abkhazia] [CMO, 36 military observers, 56 international civilians, 75 local civilians.]
Sector HQ: Gali
- Three observation teams
- Medical team [if necessary, evacuation to Zugdidi or Sukhumi]
- 37 observers; 9 international civilians, 37 local civilians
- Patrol Akhbazia side of the border, use Mine Protected Vehicles
Sector HQ: Zugdidi
- Two observation teams
- Logistics base; communications workshop; engineering section
- 31 observers, 15 international civilians, 34 local civilians
Kodori Valley
- One observation team of several observers. Sent as needed from other sectors, no staff are based here.
The observers mount daily patrols in Gali and Zugdid, and weekly patrols in the Kodari Valley which separates secessionist Akhbazia from Gerogia [fortnightly in the winter]. A patrol consists of 4 observers and an interpreter. In Gali 3 observer teams are deployed; in Zugdidi, two observer teams are deployed. Kodari Valley patrols take 3-4 days. A report from a typical patrol is given below, to show the format of the mission’s reports.
Joint UNOMIG/CIS PKF Patrol to the Kodori Valley
28 February 2003
A joint UNOMIG/CIS PKF patrol returned from a four-day deployment to the Kodori Valley on Friday 28 February 2003. The patrol reported that the situation in the Upper Kodori Valley remains calm and found no evidence of any strangers or restocking of weapons and ammunition. In the Lower Kodori Valley the patrol did not observe any unusual or increased military activity.
A
Day in the Life of a United Nations Military Observer (UNMO) in UNOMIG:
Patrolling the Georgian-Abkhazian Cease-Fire Line
Source: http://www.unomig.org/unomigin/peacekeeping/peacekeeping.html
By Major Jannich LUND
UNMO, Danish Army
The day started at 07.10 hrs when the duty officer made radio checks with all personnel to ensure everything was in order, ready for another day’s work. The morning briefing started at 08.00 hrs when the operation officer provided a bulletin of the latest developments and the day’s patrol programme.
After that I gave my briefing to the team that would be out patrolling with me that day. The patrol team consisted of UNMOs from Egypt, Poland, Russia, and a locally-employed interpreter. In the briefing I highlighted the day’s tasks and gave a rundown of the latest developments in our assigned area.
At 09.00 hrs the patrol left Sector HQ in two bullet-proof cars. We headed for our first destination -- a small village near the Cease-Fire Line (CFL). In the village we talked with the mayor, as well as with the local population. They were well disposed towards the U.N., and we were able to get a clear picture of the situation in the village. When we were about to continue with our patrol a radio call came in from our Sector Commander. The local Georgian authorities had given him information that the Commonwealth of Independent States Peace-Keeping Forces (CIS PKF), -- made up exclusively of 1,700 soldiers from the Russian Federation, -- had observed an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) on the Georgian side of the Security Zone. If this were the case a serious violation of the ceasefire agreement had occurred.
Therefore the Sector Commander ordered us to proceed to the spot without further ado. However, when we passed through the area we found no sign of an armoured vehicle. We then proceeded to the CIS PKF checkpoint which reported the APC presence on the Georgian side. But the commander of the checkpoint stated that he had not caught sight of any APC there, although he stated that he had observed six APCs on the Abkhazian side of the CFL. At this point everyone was really confused about what constituted facts and what represented misinformation. Therefore a meeting was arranged at the particular site on the CFL at 19.00 hrs.
Representatives from Georgia, Abkhazia, the CIS PKF forces, and from both UNOMIG Sectors, Gali (located on the Abkhaz side of the CFL) and Zugdidi, (located on the Georgian side) all participated. The meeting started with the Abkhazians claiming that they had observed an APC on the Georgian side - if no one could explain the reasons for its presence there, they would open fire upon it. If one of the parties in the conflict zone were to commence firing across the CFL it would represent a very serious development: the repercussions - a possible resumption of hostilities. The UNOMIG Sector Commander explained that if any APC was present in the Security Zone, it was the job of the UN and CIS PKF soldiers to ensure it was removed as rapidly as possible. Under no circumstances should the parties engage in firing across the CFL. Also he was able to confirm that the UNOMIG patrol had been at the site and no evidence had been found of any APC presence on the Georgian side of the CFL. Later during the interchange the CIS PKF soldiers stated that the checkpoint commander had caught sight of their own APC - final proof that no APC from the parties present in the Security Zone had been there.
When the meeting finished and we went back to the Sector HQ the tense situation had abated. A measured calm had been restored thanks to UNOMIG’s presence, for the patrol had helped avert any possible escalation of the conflict.
So that night I slept soundly knowing that today our presence had made a difference.
11 October 2001