Greek OSCE Chairmanship hopes independent Georgia conflict report will help heal wounds, improve diplomatic prevention

VIENNA, 1 October 2009 - The Greek Chairmanship of the OSCE hopes the work completed by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission under Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini will help heal wounds and improve diplomatic preventive capabilities, the head of the Greek Delegation to the OSCE said today.

"The Chairmanship of the OSCE expresses its appreciation to Ambassador Tagliavini and to the entire staff of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia (IIFFMCG), for the work they accomplished. At all times during their work they had the OSCE's full cooperation. We welcome the conclusion of the work of the IIFFMCG and take note of its content," said Ambassador Mara Marinaki.

"Establishing the facts and understanding the perspectives of all sides is a precondition for healing the wounds and reaching a lasting solution to the conflict; a solution that will respect the fundamental principles of international law. The Greek OSCE Chairmanship remains committed to sparing no effort towards this end," she said.

"We hope that the findings of the independent investigation will contribute to a better understanding of the origins and the course of the conflict. At the same time, it may serve as basis for reflection on how to improve our diplomatic preventive capabilities," added Marinaki, who chairs the Permanent Council, the Vienna-based OSCE decision-making body.

Yesterday in Brussels, Tagliavini presented the results of the investigation to representatives of Georgia, the Russian Federation, the European Union, the United Nations and the OSCE.