OSCE Chairperson relieved unarmed monitors freed by South Ossetian authorities, says detention was unacceptable

ATHENS, 21 April 2009 - The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, said today she welcomed the release of two unarmed OSCE Military Monitoring Officers by South Ossetian authorities but described their detention as wholly unacceptable.

The two monitors - one Hungarian and one Turkish national - were detained this morning near the village of Nikozi, south of the administrative boundary. They were released after about two and a half hours.

"I am relieved the two Military Monitoring Officers have been freed but their detention was wholly unacceptable and unnecessarily added to tensions in the region," Bakoyannis said. "It is crucial that all parties act constructively to contribute to security. This includes respecting the mandate, work and diplomatic immunity of the OSCE's Military Monitoring Officers."

Bakoyannis added: "This latest incident underlines, once more, the importance of defining the framework that will allow the unhindered monitoring of the August conflict zone. The latest proposals of the Greek Chairmanship provide the framework for a monitoring operation which will be operationally sound and meaningful, as well as safe for the OSCE Officers."

The OSCE has 20 Military Monitoring Officers in Georgia. In February, South Ossetian militiamen detained two officers and released them after nearly three hours.