Georgian Prime Minister welcomes OSCE involvement in seeking solutions to frozen conflicts

VIENNA, 27 March - Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli lauded the OSCE's involvement in initiatives aimed at achieving lasting solutions to the frozen conflicts on its territory, in a speech delivered today at a special meeting of the Organization's Permanent Council.

"Threats posed to Georgia's territorial integrity are no longer simply threats to Georgia's national security," he said. "Threats to Georgia's statehood and democracy represent threats to us all.

"That is why they must be addressed in a co-operative and co-ordinated manner. Georgia stands ready to work with our Russian counterparts to address these issues," he stressed.

On South Ossetia, the Prime Minister emphasized the high level of support for the OSCE's initiative to establish a joint policing presence: "Enhancing joint policing will lead to a direct improvement in the security situation in South Ossetia/Tskhinvali region."

Nogaideli said Georgia was looking forward to an OSCE-sponsored donor's conference for South Ossetia, set for May.

"The inhabitants of South Ossetia continue to live in unacceptable conditions of poverty and deprivation amid a climate of everyday fear," he said. "As a result of the OSCE's assessment, we are now in a position to finally address the critical infrastructure and social rehabilitation needs of the region."

He also welcomed an OSCE suggestion to establish a checkpoint at Gupta, located in a region under the joint peacekeeping forces' control and noted that OSCE had recorded violations including movement of heavy weapons.

"Most troubling is the fact that OSCE monitors are regularly denied access to critical inspection areas by the peacekeepers, allowing the violations to go unchallenged," he said. "These moves against peace must stop - and the OSCE must be allowed full access in order to monitor events, and improve the security environment."

Nogaideli repeated that he remained ready and willing to meet with the leader of South Ossetia, Mr. Eduard Kokoity, so that an atmosphere of greater trust and co-operation could be established.