OSCE Chairmanship calls for greater confidence and stability on the ground in the South Caucasus region

GENEVA, 30 March 2010 - The Kazakh OSCE Chairmanship described today's tenth round of Geneva Discussions as a further important step in decreasing existing tensions in the South Caucasus region.

Although the situation was assessed as relatively stable, it was noted that tensions continue to appear and that provocative actions and rhetoric are a matter of concern. The Co-Chairs reminded that local incidents should be addressed through the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM), established on 18 February 2009 in Geneva. Further work is underway to facilitate the activities of the IPRM.

"Lack of dialogue on the ground can cause additional tensions," said Ambassador Bolat Nurgaliyev, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. "It is regrettable that the second IPRM has not met since last October. We call for the full resumption of the mechanism."

The discussions take place in two parallel working groups. One group looks at security and stability in the region and the other deals with humanitarian questions.

Nurgaliyev undertook to continue further discussions on a platform for parallel humanitarian activities in the fields of gas supply and rehabilitation of water distribution networks.

He and the other two co-chairs - Ambassador Antti Turunen of the UN and Ambassador Pierre Morel of the EU - discussed with participants interim steps towards a framework for a potential non-use of force agreement and international security arrangements. The possibility of confidence-building measures such as the voluntary exchange of information on sensitive activities was also discussed and will be pursued further.

The Co-Chairs agreed with the participants that the next meeting would be in Geneva on 8 June.