Georgian Prime Minister calls for implementation of South Ossetia peace plan, suggests increase of OSCE monitors

VIENNA, 27 October 2006 - Georgia's Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli, speaking at the OSCE Permanent Council today, called for implementation of an OSCE-approved peace plan for Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia and suggested to increase OSCE monitors in the region.

"I wish to reiterate my willingness and that of my government, to engage in a direct dialogue with members of the Russian Government as soon as possible," Mr Nogaideli said.

"How do we bring new momentum to our efforts at building peace? I think the answer is staring us in the face. It is the very peace plan that this institution universally endorsed almost one year ago in Ljubljana. Only now we must implement its provisions and steps," he said.

The Georgian Prime Minister applauded the "very constructive ideas put forward recently by members of the OSCE to expand the mandate in South Ossetia," suggesting that an increase of OSCE monitors in the entire region of South Ossetia and its capital, Tskhinvali, was the right step at the right time.

"Likewise, to reduce tension and counter the growing threats, it is high time that we establish a joint Georgian-Russian-OSCE permanent monitoring presence at the Roki Tunnel," Mr Nogaideli added. The Roki Tunnel links South Ossetia and the Russian Federation territory.

Prime Minister Nogaideli announced on behalf of Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili his readiness to meet directly with the de-facto leader of South Ossetia, Eduard Kokoity.

"This step, indeed this new initiative, is intended to create dialogue, build trust, and create a powerful signal that there is no alternative to peace," he said.

Thanking the OSCE for its efforts in the field of rehabilitation in South Ossetia, Mr Nogaideli said that Georgia had developed a law on restitution of property for internally displaced and refugees from the South Ossetian conflict, and invited the OSCE to hold a meeting on the practical implementation of this law.

Mr Nogadeli also asked the OSCE to hold a special conference on implementation of the peace plan, ideally before the meeting of the OSCE's 56 foreign ministers in Brussels on 4 and 5 December. "Together we can bring greater focus and more concentrated effort towards implementation of the peace plan," he said.

The Georgian Prime Minister concluded by saying that his country was ready to offer the citizens of South Ossetia the widest form of autonomy possible.

"Georgia is ready to move forward with all these measures - in order to create a constructive atmosphere where discussions on the final status of South Ossetia can be more easily addressed," he said.