OSCE Chairman welcomes first meeting of Steering Committee on economic rehabilitation in Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone

BRUSSELS, 6 October 2006 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, said he was pleased that the first meeting of the Steering Committee on the international programme of economic rehabilitation within the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict had taken place in Tskhinvali today.

"The meeting of the new Steering Committee is a sign that peace can be restored in the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone and the prospects of the population living there can be improved," said Minister De Gucht.

The Chairman also expressed hope that the implementation of the projects will help build confidence between the parties and bring a settlement of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict closer, for the benefit of the people and stability in the region.

The meeting follows an OSCE needs assessment study carried out in 2005 and 2006 and the 14 June Donor Conference in Brussels, where more than 10 million euros was pledged in support of a package of projects for the social and economic rehabilitation of the region.

The new Steering Committee, consisting of all the members of the Joint Control Commission and representatives of the donors, is responsible for co-ordinating the implementation of the projects.