Russian MFA Describes OSCE Border Operation as ‘Ineffective’

In an information note issued on December 31 the Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said that OSCE Border Operation in Georgia has already “fulfilled its mission” adding that the operation “was not distinguished by its special effectiveness.”

At the session of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna Russia vetoed on December 30 to prolong border monitoring mission in Georgia, as a result around 150 observers from the OSCE member countries, who were monitoring troubled sections of the Russo-Georgian Border since 1999, started to leave their posts.

“Starting from January 1, 2005… the [observers from the OSCE] stop monitoring operations and start gradual pulling out of the infrastructure. As the practice shows, this process may take several months,” Alexander Yakovenko said.

“We think that the observers from the OSCE have already fulfilled their mission at the Russian-Georgian border. On the background of successful cooperation between Georgia and Russia over security of the joint border, the OSCE monitoring mission, which was not distinguished by its special effectiveness, could not influence on existing situation any more,” the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

He also said that Russia will continue cooperation with the Georgian border guard department and security structures in order to further prevent illegal cross-border movement and terrorism threat.

Up to 150 unarmed observers from OSCE member countries conducted round-the-clock foot, air and vehicle monitoring procedures along the 280 km Daghestani, Chechen and Ingush sections of the Russian-Georgian border, in an effort to observe and report border-crossing movements.

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