OSCE Chairman calls for an inclusive investigation into missile incident in Georgia

MADRID, 8 August 2007 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, encouraged parties involved in the missile incident in Georgia to continue to show restraint in this matter and stressed that a co-operative approach should facilitate a thorough investigation into the facts.

Minister Moratinos discussed the incident over the phone with his Georgian counterpart, Gela Bezhuashvili, and Russia's First Deputy Foreign Minister, Andrey Denisov.

"We welcome decisions by the parties to avoid taking measures which would increase tensions or interfere with a calm and thorough investigation into the facts which should be conducted in view of the serious nature of this incident. Such an investigation should include the participation of all implicated parties," said Minister Moratinos.

The Chairman went on to offer OSCE assistance, saying: "The OSCE stands ready to co-operate with the investigation within the framework of its mandate."

On 6 August, an air-launched missile impacted open space in the Shida Kartli region to the south east of the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict.