OSCE Mission assists in handover of weapons and munitions in zone of Georgian-Ossetian conflict

TBILISI, 30 April 2004 - Russian engineers of the Joint Peacekeeping Force (JPKF) carried out on Thursday the destruction and demolition of weapons and munitions collected under the OSCE Mission to Georgia Rapid Reaction programme in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict.

Items destroyed included one 82 mm mortar, one 23 mm heavy machine gun, 24 firearms of various types, 66 anti-tank mines as well as ammunition, rockets and grenades. They had been handed over during the past 18 months. The destruction process was monitored by OSCE observers.

"This programme substantially diminishes the threats of accidental outbreak of violence caused by excessive amounts of munitions in general circulation in the zone of conflict," said Ambassador Roy Reeve, Head of the OSCE Mission to Georgia.

Under the Rapid Reaction programme, the OSCE provides financial assistance for community-oriented small projects. Based on ideas suggested by individuals, the projects aim at helping to improve the living and social conditions of communities within the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict. The activities address the needs and concerns of the community.

The weapons were destroyed at the Russian Battalion of the JPKF, and the ammunition and explosives on a range near Tskhinvali. Observers present included Giorgi Khaindrava, Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution and Boris Chochiev, South Ossetian Co-Chairman of the Joint Control Commission for the settlement of the Georgian-Ossetian Conflict. Diplomatic representatives from the donor states of Italy and the UK were also present.