OSCE Parliamentarians visit Georgia to facilitate reconciliation in Abkhazia

COPENHAGEN, 28 June 2001 (OSCE) - The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Ad Hoc Committee on Abkhazia, Georgia visited Georgia from 26 to 28 June to make a first assessment of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict settlement process.

The delegation met with the President of Georgia, Eduard Shevardnadze, and with ministers, parliamentarians, and non-governmental organization leaders from Abkhazia. The visit was organized in close co-operation with the OSCE Mission to Georgia, and consultations were held with representatives of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia, as well as with other diplomatic missions and humanitarian agencies active in the peace process.

The Head of the Ad Hoc Committee, Mr. Jerzy Osiatynski, MP (Poland), said that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Ad Hoc Committee on Abkhazia, Georgia would listen carefully to all sides before making any final conclusions or recommendations. "We regret that the Abkhaz side was not ready to meet with us during our first visit, but we do hope that a dialogue can be opened, once we have had a chance to explain our purpose and approach", he said.

Mr. Osiatynski emphasized that the Committee will focus on possibilities for reconciliation, and that its work will be carried out in close consultation with participants in the United Nations-led peace process: "We will leave the questions of guilt and blame to historians and focus our efforts on measures that may build confidence and facilitate the secure return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees, to Gali in the first instance."

Mr. Osiatynski also said that, if the sides would find it useful, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is also ready to assist in facilitating co-operation on constitutional arrangements which may meet the needs of all interested parties, while respecting the integrity of the Georgian State. "We firmly believe that value can be added to the peace process through involvement of OSCE parliamentarians, who have particular possibilities of raising support and awareness", he said.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly established its Ad Hoc Committee on Abkhazia, Georgia in February 2001 to promote the creation of a political framework for an early resolution of the frozen conflict in Abkhazia, through involvement of parliamentarians from OSCE countries. The Committee is headed by Jerzy Osiatynski. Its other members are: Alcee Hastings, MP (USA); Paula Kokkonen, MP (Finland); Ahmet Tan, MP (Turkey) and Eduard Vorobiev, MP (Russia).

Mr. Vorobiev was unable to participate in this first visit to Georgia. Michael Ochs, United States Committee on Security and Co-operation in Europe, US Congress, represented Mr. Hastings, who was also unable to participate.

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For further information please contact Jan Jooren, Press Counsellor of the OSCE PA, tel. + 45 33 37 80 36, Fax + 45 33 37 80 30, e-mail: jan@oscepa.dk.