OSCE Mission stresses need to continue co-operation on rehabilitation projects in zone of Georgian-Ossetian conflict

TBILISI, 14 February 2006 - The OSCE Mission to Georgia, underlined the importance of continuing co-operation and confidence-building measures in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict at a workshop on economic rehabilitation projects.

Representatives of the sides of the conflict and international community discussed the preliminary findings of an OSCE-led analysis of the state of the infrastructure, energy, agriculture, business and finance issues in the zone of conflict, in order to identify priority projects.

The meeting, held in Dzoraget, Armenia, was part of an OSCE needs assessment study launched last November.

Giorgi Volsky and Leonid Tibilov, representing the Georgian and South Ossetian sides of the Joint Control Commission (JCC), noted the constructive atmosphere of co-operation and genuine readiness for urgently needed rehabilitation projects.

"The experts have worked professionally, understanding the specific nature of the difficulties of the situation," said Giorgi Volsky, Georgian Deputy Minister for Conflicts Resolution. "The next stage is to select possible projects highlighted by the experts' findings."

Leonid Tibilov, Secretary of the JCC South Ossetian side, stressed the importance of economic rehabilitation in the zone of conflict. "Solutions for economic issues are the basis for a further peaceful settlement. The population in the zone of conflict anticipates the benefits of resulting projects."

Representatives of North Ossetian and Russian sides also discussed the findings of the Study with delegates from the donors, including USAID, the European Commission (EC) and the Dutch and French Embassies.

USAID funded over 70 per cent of the 350,000 Euro initiative. Its Deputy Director Robert Wilson said "the sessions contributed towards fostering peaceful resolution of the conflict and building confidence between the parties."

Jacques Vantomme, Deputy Head of the EC Delegation in Georgia, suggested involving more donors. He also said that "socio-economic development and infrastructure rehabilitation is part of peaceful resolution. To give peace a chance, we should give that process time."