OSCE Special Envoy in Georgia ahead of special Permanent Council meeting on Abkhazia incident
TBILISI, 29 April 2008 - Heikki Talvitie, the Special Envoy of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, said today he had constructive discussions with Georgian authorities on the 20 April airspace incident over Abkhazia, as well as on Georgia's preparations for the May parliamentary elections.
"I have had constructive discussions with the Georgian Government and will brief the OSCE Chairman-in-Office," said Talvitie.
He said the Chairman-in-Office was deeply concerned about the 20 April incident, and that the OSCE supported United Nations actions in Abkhazia, Georgia, and is actively seeking ways to continue its support using all tools available.
The OSCE Permanent Council will convene a special meeting in Vienna tomorrow to discuss the incident.
In Tbilisi, the Special Envoy met the Chairperson of Parliament Nino Burjanadze, Acting Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze, and State Minister for Reintegration Teimuraz Iakobashvili.
The 21 May parliamentary elections were also discussed.
Special Envoy Talvitie also met the Chairman of the Central Election Commission, the Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observer Mission in Georgia, Ambassador Boris Frlec, and a representative of the opposition.
"I have underlined the Chairman's message that the May parliamentary elections are very significant for democracy in Georgia. I have reiterated the call to make full use of all the OSCE assistance which is being offered in this regard," said Talvitie.