Mikheil Saakashvili's initiative of a single and inseparable Caucasus,
announced at a UN meeting, and the scrapping of visas for Russian
citizens living in Russia's North Caucasus republics, was followed by
initiatives from several non-governmental organizations to establish an
organization called 'Peacekeeping Initiative of the Caucasian Peoples for
Peace and Cooperation in the Region'. The Freedom and Peace Fund, an
informal association of free thinkers, and the Caucasus Solidarity and
People's Justice organisations are part of the initiative group.
The group plans to activate people's diplomacy, establish a so-called
'bank of peacekeeping ideas', and hire staff from the intellectual and
political elite of Caucasus peoples.
The new organizations will build ties with the UN and other
international organizations. Its first step will be a Peacekeeping
Congress of Caucasus Peoples in Tbilisi, which will form two
structures - the Peacekeeping Council of the Caucasus and the Court of
Caucasus Peoples.
The Peacekeeping Council of the Caucasus will be a consultative
structure based on the UN Charter. It will promote peace, develop
cooperation between peoples, and protect human rights. It plans to
popularize the inseparable Caucasus idea. The budget of this
organization will be formed from local resources and financial aid. It
may eventually turn into an all-Caucasus parliament.
The Court of Caucasus Peoples is expected to become the main
instrument of the Peacekeeping Council. The court will consider all
disputes and lawsuits and solve them in a just and legitimate manner.
The court will consist of the best lawyers from all Caucasus peoples
in a parity scheme. Inter-ethnic conflicts will be resolved with a
plaintiff representing his people and a defense lawyer representing
his people. There will be an investigation committee under the
auspices of the court.
Authors of the project refer to the European experience.
Author: Georgiy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. Exclusively for VK
