OSCE Chairman Concerned by South Ossetia Tensions

The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, expressed concern on July 11 about increased tensions in recent days in the South Ossetian conflict zone and called for a prompt reopening of the only legal border crossing point between Georgia and Russia to help defuse tensions in the conflict zone.

Russia closed down Zemo Larsi border customs checkpoint citing ?technical reconstruction? on July 8 which has redirected movement of persons and cargo via Roki Tunnel, which links breakaway South Ossetia with the Russian Federation. But the Georgian side considers this route as illegal.

“An already difficult situation is becoming exacerbated. I express the hope that the border crossing point can be re-opened as speedily as possible, so that current tensions can be defused,” the OSCE Chairman-in-Office said.

The Chairman-in-Office welcomed the Georgian Government’s readiness to allow people to enter the country through Roki Tunnel in South Ossetia, which is an unrecognized border crossing point until 14 July, by which time he hoped discussions between the two Governments would lead to the official border point being reopened.

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