OSCE, EU co-operation on the ground in Georgia strong, head of EU Monitoring Mission tells OSCE States

VIENNA, 11 February 2009 - Co-operation on the ground between the EU and OSCE in Georgia is strong, but discussion on the future of the international presence in the region is needed, the head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia, Ambassador Hansjörg Haber, told OSCE participating States today.

"The OSCE Mission to Georgia has been there almost since the independence of the country, and they have amassed a vast resource of knowledge that we are lucky to tap," he said.

Haber, along with Ambassador Herbert Salber, head of the OSCE's Conflict Prevention Centre, addressed representatives of the 56 OSCE participating States at a joint Permanent Council/ Forum for Security Co-operation meeting.

Salber noted the EU's contribution to security and stability in Georgia. "The EU plays an important role as a civilian observation operation. The OSCE, with its long experience in the field and broad membership, comprising all key players in the region, complements and reinforces the EU monitoring mission," he said.

Salber urged participating States to address the urgent issue of the OSCE's mandate in the region: "As the situation on the ground remains unstable, the mandate of the OSCE unarmed military monitoring officers will come to an end in a few days. This is the right moment to look seriously into the issue of continuing the OSCE presence on the ground."

Referring to the uncertainty surrounding the mandates of the OSCE and the United Nations in the region, Haber said that discussion in the medium to long term on the "architecture" of the international presence in Georgia was needed.

"There should be some systematic thinking about the comparative advantages our institutions can offer," he said.

The Permanent Council convenes weekly to discuss developments in the OSCE area and to make appropriate decisions. The Forum for Security Co-operation meets weekly to discuss and make decisions regarding military aspects of security in the OSCE area, in particular confidence- and security-building measures.