OSCE Chairman, Georgian President discuss missile incident, regional tensions

BATUMI, Georgia, 4 September 2007 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, said today the Organization would continue to work to foster a climate of understanding between Russia and Georgia and find ways to avoid future crises similar to the 6 August missile incident in Georgia.

Minister Moratinos was speaking in Batumi, on Georgia's Black Sea coast, after talks with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili that also covered the Georgian-Ossetian conflict and other OSCE-related topics.

"The Economic Rehabilitation Programme, which the OSCE leads, is an important factor in building confidence in and around the zone of conflict because it can make a practical difference to people's lives," said the Chairman-in-Office.

On the August 6 missile incident, Minister Moratinos said he had briefed President Saakashvili on a report from his Personal Representative, former Croatian foreign minister Miomir Zuzul, on meetings the envoy held between 20 and 24 August in Tbilisi and Moscow.

"My Personal Representative will address the Permanent Council in Vienna on Thursday this week to brief the participating States on my behalf," Minister Moratinos said.

"Tensions between Georgia and Russia are in nobody's interests and resonate across the region. The OSCE and its Chairman-in-Office have an important and valid role to play to try to reduce those tensions."

Minister Moratinos added: "The OSCE will keep doing whatever is necessary to create a climate of understanding between Georgia and Russia, bilaterally without forgetting the role and interest of the international community. What is most important is to find solutions for the future."

Earlier today, the Chairman-in-Office met other Georgian officials in the capital Tbilisi. He held talks with Nino Burjanadze, the Speaker of Parliament, Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli, the State Minister for Conflicts Resolution, David Bakradze, and First Deputy Foreign Minister Nikoloz Vashkidze. He also met Georgian opposition political parties.