Rachel Clogg is Co-Director of the Caucasus Programme at Conciliation Resources, a London-based non-governmental organization working to prevent violence, promote justice and transform conflict into opportunities for development. In 2000-01 she held the Max Hayward Research Fellowship at St. Antony's College, Oxford. Previously, she lectured in Russian history, culture and politics at the University of North Wales, having completed a PhD on Fazil' Iskander and the politics of identity in Abkhazia. Since 1997, CR's Caucasus Programme has pursued a wide range of activities supporting partners in their work to address the root causes of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict, providing opportunities for dialogue and strategizing for politicians, officials and civic activists, and aiming to increase access to information, influence public opinion and challenge stereotypes in a variety of media initiatives.

David Darchiashvili has been working in the NGO sector in Georgia since 1992, for a long time being based at the Caucasian Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development. He has also served as Head of the Georgian Parliamentary Research Department and is currently Director of the Open Society–Georgian Foundation. He spent the academic year 2002-03 in Washington on a Fulbright Fellowship. Much of his work and academic research have been centered on questions of civic-military relations, security issues, ethnic conflicts, and civil society and liberal values in Georgia. A leading Georgian expert in security and civil-military issues, he has published extensively on the topic as well as on the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict and he has participated in a number of Georgian-Abkhaz dialogue initiatives.

Liana Kvarchelia is Deputy Director of the Center for Humanitarian Programs, one of the longest standing NGOs in Abkhazia, established in 1994. Working on a range of civil society development issues she is regularly involved as facilitator, trainer and moderator in various projects related to conflict transformation and civic education both in Abkhazia and in the wider Caucasus framework. Since 1996 she has been actively involved in a number of projects concerning the Georgian/Abkhaz conflict, including participation in long-term programmes together with the University of California (Irvine), Conciliation Resources, and International Alert. From 1997 until 2000 she worked as National Community Facilitator in the United Nations Volunteer programme in Abkhazia. She spent the academic year 2000-01 as an International Fellow at Responding to Conflict in the UK. Liana Kvarchelia was one of the leaders of the "League of Voters for Fair Elections" which monitored the 2004 presiden! tial elections in Abkhazia.

Leonid Lakerbaya was Prime Minister of the Republic of Abkhazia from December 1992 until January 1994. From January 1994 till March 1995 he was Deputy Prime Minister. In 1994 he was the representative of the Abkhaz President in the Quadripartite Committee on the return of IDPs and Refugees. Later he was Minister of Foreign Affairs for two years. He became the leader of the opposition movement "Aitaira" and was elected as member of the Abkhaz Parliament in 2000, where he headed the opposition faction. After the Presidential elections in 2004 he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister. Mr. Lakerbaya has participated in the informal Abkhaz/Georgian dialogue process organized by Conciliation Resources (London) and the Berghof Center for Constructive Conflict Management (Berlin).

Paata Zakareishvili has, since 1996, been actively involved in a wide range of projects concerning the Georgian/Abkhaz conflict, including participation in long-term programmes together with the University of California (Irvine), Conciliation Resources, International Alert and the Berghof Foundation for Peace Support. In addition to his peace building work he is a member of the Tbilisi city council, having previously served as head of human rights in the penitentiary department of the Justice Ministry. Prior to this he was the main adviser to the Parliamentary Committee for Human Rights and Ethnic Minorities and also served as the secretary to a commission established by the Georgian President working on corruption. During the war he was head of the Commission for Prisoners of War, Missing in Action and protection of civilian rights in the Georgian/Abkhaz conflict zone. He is a well-known commentator on the Georgian/Abkhaz conflict, and contributes regularly to the Georgian press.