OSCE's Economic Rehabilitation Programme donates machinery and equipment to local agricultural associations

TBILISI, 16 April 2009---The OSCE 's Economic Rehabilitation Programme donated agricultural machinery and equipment to eight agricultural associations in Georgia today.

The associations, located in the conflict-affected region of Shida Kartli, were established in 2008 through the Mission's Economic Rehabilitation Programme, which focused on improving tomato, cabbage and trout production, as well as providing agricultural machinery and equipment in the area.

"The provision of agricultural machinery is a very important step towards sustainable and improved economic development in this conflict-affected region," said Ambassador Terhi Hakala, the Head of the OSCE Mission.

The donation of 51 items of agricultural machinery and equipment was financed by the Swedish, Estonian and Norwegian governments.

The OSCE-led Economic Rehabilitation Programme, funded by 21 donor states, was designed to help communities in the zone of conflict.

The OSCE Mission to Georgia is in a process of discontinuation. The Greek OSCE Chairmanship is leading intense negotiations that aim to find consensus among the 56 OSCE participating States for a continued OSCE presence in Georgia.