OSCE Chairman-in-Office on armed insurrection in Georgia

WARSAW, 21 October 1998 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Polish Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek, is concerned about the recent armed insurrection in Western Georgia. This is a clear attempt to replace democratic procedures by the use of force. This threatens the whole process of stabilization achieved in Georgia during the past four years.

Moreover it threatens the process of conflict settlement in which the OSCE is involved and may also have adverse effects on stability in the Caucasus. The OSCE Chairman-in-Office appeals to the insurgents to lay down their arms and hopes that the incident will be settled without bloodshed.