Lavrov Speaks of Reasons of Russia’s Veto on OSCE Border Monitoring

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on January 19, that Russia’s decision to veto prolongation of the OSCE Border Monitoring Operation (BMO) on the Russian-Georgian border was triggered by “pragmatic considerations” adding that this decision should not be perceived as Moscow’s “political diversion.”

He said that 15 million euros were spent for BMO annually. “This money can be spent with more benefits, including in Georgia, particularly on strengthening of [Georgia’s] border guard service,” Sergey Lavrov said at a news conference in Moscow, RIA Novosti and Interfax news agencies reported.
 
The Russian Foreign Minister said that the BMO, which was launched in 1999, when the border was poorly controlled, had “political-psychological importance” and did not serve to protect the border.

“We are ready to control [Russian-Georgian border] with the Russian border guard forces,” he added.

Lavrov also said that cooperation between the Georgian and Russian border guard services should be deepened “in order to prevent any possibility of use of Pankisi gorge as a rest point for terrorists.” Russia recently has again accused Georgia of harboring Chechen militants and terrorist groups in Pankisi gorge, , in north-eastern Georgia near the Russian border.

Russia vetoed discussion of issue of the prolongation of the OSCE Border Monitoring Operation at the OSCE Permanent Council session on December 30. The OSCE observers were monitoring the 280 km Daghestani, Chechen and Ingush sections of the Russian-Georgian border, in an effort to observe and report border-crossing movements.

Georgia reacted harshly on this veto saying that Russia “looks for an excuse” to mount pressure on Georgia by putting forward groundless accusations over harboring terrorist groups in Pankisi gorge, in north-eastern Georgia near the Russian border.

Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze accused on January 18 Russia of resorting to “policy of double-standards.” She said at a news conference that on the one hand Russia vetoes international border monitoring mission and on the other hand launches accusations over the presence of Chechen rebels on the Georgian soil.

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