Moscow Accuses Tbilisi of Hindering South Ossetian Talks

In a statement issued on July 1 the Russian Foreign Ministry accused the Georgian side of impeding sessions of the quadripartite Joint Control Commission (JCC), which are being held to defuse tensions in the South Ossetian conflict zone.

The Georgian side refused to participate in the scheduled session of the JCC in Moscow on June 30-July 1 until after the de facto authorities of South Ossetia release three Georgian security officials.

?Moscow considers this position [by the Georgian side] unconstructive  and it contradicts Tbilisi?s commitment to solve the South Ossetian conflict through political means and dialogue,? the Russian Foreign Ministry?s statement reads.

Moscow called for the resumption of talks in order to defuse an ?extremely tense situation? in the conflict zone.