OSCE Chairman-in-Office deeply concerned over deterioration of situation in zone of Georgian-Ossetian conflict

SOFIA, 30 July 2004 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, the Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Solomon Passy, expressed his deep concern with the further deterioration of the situation in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict during the last 48 hours, which has led to casualties.

This follows the recent visit of his Special Envoy to Georgia, former President of Bulgaria Dr. Zhelyu Zhelev, and the address of the Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Salome Zourabichvili, to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna.

The Chairman-in-Office reiterated his urgent appeal to both sides of the conflict immediately to cease hostile actions and to seek a peaceful solution of the conflict.

"Such actions might have dire consequences for both sides and also for the security of the entire region," said Minister Passy.

The Chairman-in-Office called on both sides to:

• Implement without delay the decisions taken by the Joint Control Commission meeting on 2 June and 15 July, particularly regarding the removal of unauthorized checkpoints and paramilitary formations;
• Immediately withdraw from the zone of conflict all paramilitary and police personnel not required for normal policing duties and the demobilization of local "self-defence" units;
• Organize as soon as possible a meeting of the Joint Control Commission to discuss further measures to achieve effective demilitarization in the area;
• In the meantime to encourage the technical expert group meeting in Tskhinvali to agree effective measures to control the situation and reduce tension.

Minister Passy stressed that he would continue to monitor closely the situation. He reiterated his readiness to invite the parties to Sofia for a meeting at a high political level to discuss measures to achieve resolution of the conflict. "A meeting at this level has only been held once in the history of this conflict. It is high time now to resume," said the Chairman-in-Office.