OSCE Chairman calls for return to negotiations on Georgian-Ossetian conflict

BRUSSELS, 22 February 2006 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office (CiO), Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, today urged all parties involved in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict to return to the negotiating table, exercise restraint and refrain from any unilateral action that might worsen the situation.

"It is now important to resume the dialogue," he said. "All parties should take on a constructive approach in the spirit of the 'Statement on Georgia' adopted at the OSCE Ministerial Council in December 2005 in Ljubljana. There are pressing issues to be addressed, such as the need for urgent demilitarization and further progress on peace initiatives."

The Chairman-in-Office discussed the situation yesterday during a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Both agreed that it was imperative to restart the political negotiations.

The CiO expressed regret that the meeting of the Joint Control Commission (JCC) on the Georgian-Ossetian conflict could not take place as planned on 20 and 21 February in Vienna.

"We are disappointed that appropriate opportunities to resume the political dialogue are not being used," Minister De Gucht said. At the same time, he expressed his support for the OSCE Mission to Georgia's ongoing efforts to promote the peace process. The CiO announced that he would send his Special Representative, Senator Pierre Chevalier, back to the region.

"He will continue to talk to the parties and to look into possibilities to a meeting on a political level organize as soon as possible, in Brussels or any other city acceptable to all parties," he said.

Senator Chevalier had travelled on 16 and 17 February to Georgia to express the CiO's concern about the increased tension in the field and to contribute to the stabilization of the situation in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict.

In meetings with President Mikheil Saakashvili, Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli, Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili and Parliament Speaker Nino Burjanadze, Senator Chevalier had discussed the demilitarization process as well as ways to improve the efficiency of the multinational peacekeeping force and prospects for the zone of conflict's economic rehabilitation and development.

Minister De Gucht also said that, conditions permitting, he intended to host a JCC meeting with the participation of donors for rehabilitation projects in the zone of conflict at the end of April. "This would serve as a follow-up to the currently ongoing OSCE Needs Assessment Study," he said.