Greater international efforts needed to address challenges to stable security in Georgia, say participants of OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation

VIENNA, 13 July 2016 –The importance of international fora and mechanisms in addressing the consequences of the 2008 conflict in Georgia and in increasing stability and transparency in the region was highlighted at the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation’s meeting today.

Addressing the meeting in Vienna, David Dondua, Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia, stressed the need for reciprocity to Georgia’s unilateral non-use of force commitment and implementation of the 12 August 2008 Agreement. He also emphasized the necessity of establishing the comprehensive International Security Arrangements on the ground as well as restoring a full-fledged OSCE presence in Georgia. Speaking on human security issue, Deputy Minister underlined the urgent need for addressing the severe human rights and humanitarian situation on the ground. Despite the current absence of open hostilities, he noted that “the absence of war does not necessarily mean peace.”

Dondua said that conflicts in the region “require greater international attention and viable solutions through peaceful means, with compliance with the principles of international law.”

He repeated Georgia’s commitment to peaceful conflict resolution. “Our Government will follow its pragmatic and rational policy, which cannot have an alternative,” Dondua said, adding it will continue to take steps  towards consolidating democracy, enhancing the rule of law and human security; intensifying Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic aspiration, as well as deepening economic cooperation, through regional and global projects.

Kestutis Jankauskas, Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), also addressed the meeting, and emphasized the importance of his mission’s work with the OSCE in co-facilitating meetings in Ergneti of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism, which discuss, among other issues: the identification of potential risks, the follow-up of incidents and the exchange of information, as well as problems affecting the communities on a daily basis. 

Jankauskas noted that over the past years the situation on the ground has remained stable but not free of challenges. He mentioned the recent killing in Khurcha; the creation near Jariasheni of so-called grass fire protection lines, which the local population perceived as a road or barrier; and limitations to the freedom of movement across the Administrative Boundary Line, as situations that could develop into sources of tension without efforts to facilitate their solution.

Head of the EUMM stressed that the main challenge for the Mission is the lack of access to the territories controlled by Sukhumi and Tskhinvali.

Ambassador Adam Bugajski of Poland, who currently chairs the Forum for Security Co-operation, agreed that the Geneva International Discussions and the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanisms make a vital contribution toward confidence-building and transparency on the ground.

Bugajski, recalling the Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze’s address to the Permanent Council on 2 June 2016 on the need for updating and modernizing the Vienna Document on confidence- and security-building measures, also commended Georgia’s Government for its active engagement in promoting dialogue within the OSCE framework.