The OSCE and the Council of Europe: assessment of the human rights situation in Georgia needed

BRUSSELS, 15 September 2008 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, and Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, met today in Brussels. The following statement was issued after the meeting:

"Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb of Finland and Foreign Minister Carl Bildt of Sweden met today in Brussels as chairs of the OSCE and the Council of Europe respectively together with the the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Terry Davis, and the Director of the Office of the Secretary General of the OSCE, Paul Fritch. Regarding the situation in Georgia, they called for a strict adherence to the six-point ceasefire agreement of the French and Russian Presidents. It is fundamental that the Russian troops return to their positions held prior to 7 August. They also expressed their strong support for the activities already undertaken by the Council of Europe and the OSCE. They agreed on the importance to continue to assess the overall human rights situation in the war-affected areas, including South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

They recalled that as member States of the Council of Europe and participating States of the OSCE both Russia and Georgia are bound by human rights obligations and commitments which must be respected in all circumstances.

Other topics of the meeting included election-related issues and co-operation between the two organisations in the four priority areas; action against terrorism, the protection of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, combating trafficking in human beings and promoting tolerance and non-discrimination."