OSCE Chairmanship says latest Geneva discussions were constructive contribution

GENEVA, 17 September 2009 - The seventh round of Geneva Discussions that took place today were a constructive contribution to stability and security in a troubled region, the Greek OSCE Chairmanship said.

"From the OSCE perspective, the key element of this round of the discussions was that there was a practical, detailed exchange of views on elements for a potential agreement on the non-use of force and international security arrangements. The OSCE will join the other Co-Chairs in drafting elements of an agreement for the next round," said Ambassador Charalampos Christopoulos, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.

"Clearly differences remain but today's discussions were a constructive, forward-looking contribution to stability and security in a troubled region."

He and the other two co-chairs - Ambassador Johan Verbeke of the UN and Ambassador Pierre Morel of the EU - agreed with the participants that the next meeting would be in Geneva on 11 November.

The discussions took place in two parallel working groups; one looked at security and stability in the region and the other looked at humanitarian questions.

Christopoulos told participants the OSCE welcomed the fact that meetings of the joint Incident Prevention and Response Mechanisms had become regular. He said the OSCE played an active part in the meetings handling South Ossetian issues, and would continue to do so.