Georgia’s National Security Council is considering a new peace plan for the separatist region of Abkhazia

The plan envisions the creation of a Georgian federation, in which Abkhazia would retain broad autonomy. It also seeks to encourage the repatriation of an estimated 260,000 individuals displaced by fighting over a decade ago. Details of the proposed conflict resolution doctrine were published May 21 on the Civil Georgia web site. Since the 1992-93 civil war, Abkhazia has acted as a de facto independent entity. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. The doctrine, provided it is approved by the security council, would guide President Mikheil Saakashvili’s efforts to reunify Georgia through peaceful means. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Trying to entice the Abkhaz leadership to abandon its stated goal of gaining international recognition of its independence, the proposed Georgian peace doctrine would allow regional leader to retain control over local affairs within the context of a federated state. The central government in Tbilisi would retain control over foreign policy, defense, customs collection and the fight against organized crime. At the same time, Abkhazia would continue to enjoy having its own executive and legislative branches of government, if regional residents so desire. In addition, the region would be allowed to circulate a special type of currency depicting Abkhaz national symbols. Abkhaz leaders in the past have said they will not compromise on the issue of independence. If they end up agreeing to a federative arrangement, however, the peace doctrine goes on to say that displaced persons should be encouraged to return to their homes "gradually and voluntarily." According to the doctrine, international assistance would be required in order to provide compensation to those IDPs whose homes were destroyed by the civil war. In an attempt to reassure Abkhaz leaders, the doctrine would seek to maintain the inter-ethnic balance that existed before the outbreak of hostilities, placing limits on potential in-migration. "The number of persons from other parts of Georgia, who express a willingness to live in Abkhazia, should not exceed 1-2 percent of the population," Civil Georgia reported.