OSCE Chairman reaffirms Organization's commitment to stabilize post-conflict situation in South Caucasus

TBILISI, 22 August 2008 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Finland's Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, said today that the Organization was strongly committed to helping stabilize the current situation in Georgia. 

Minister Stubb, who ended his trip to Georgia today, said the OSCE had three priorities in the region - to enlarge the OSCE monitoring operation in Georgia, to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, and to engage the international community in a broad discussion on South Ossetia, Georgia.

The Chairman added that it was crucial to keep the momentum after the 56 OSCE participating States reached consensus in Vienna. "I can assure you that there is a shared feeling of urgency," he said.

On 19 August, the OSCE Permanent Council decided after days of intense negotiations to increase the number of military monitoring officers in Georgia by up to 100. Participating States reached the agreement to immediately deploy 20 monitors in the areas adjacent to South Ossetia.

"The security and safety of the staff of the OSCE Mission to Georgia is a priority and we rely on all relevant authorities to take responsibility and to ensure that the monitors can carry out their work in a safe and secure manner. At the same time, I will make sure that we establish direct lines of communication with the parties concerned," said Stubb.

The OSCE monitors will contribute to reducing tensions, easing the humanitarian crisis and encouraging further political dialogue to find a longer term solution to the conflict.

Minister Stubb met President Mikheil Saakashvili, Speaker of Parliament Davit Bakradze, Prime Minister Vladimir Gurgenidze, Foreign Minister Ekaterina Tkeshelashvili, the Minister of Euro-Atlantic Integration Giorgi Baramidze, and the Minister of Reintegration Temur Yakobashvili.

The OSCE Chairman also visited the city of Gori and met internally displaced people from Gori and ethnic Georgian villages in South Ossetia.

On 16 and 17 August, the OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut visited Vladikavkaz, Russia, and met with local authorities and refugees from Tskhinvali.