Russian MFA Briefs on JCC Talks

In an information note issued on October 26 the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) outlined issues which were agreed at the session of the quadripartite Joint Control Commission (JCC) over South Ossetian conflict resolution, which was held in Moscow on October 24-25.

The Russian MFA stressed that ?constructive decisions by the JCC have disavowed the claims of those who speak of the ineffectiveness of the current mechanism of [conflict] resolution.? The Russian MFA refers to the Georgian side, which seeks to change the Russian-dominated negotiating arrangement, known as the JCC, which involves the Georgian, South Ossetian, Russian and Russia?s North Ossetian sides.

?Progress in [conflict] resolution will depend not on some kind of ‘magic’ formula [within the negotiating mechanism], but on the political will to implement decisions made in frames of the JCC,? the Russian MFA stated.

According to this information note, participants of the JCC noted that the ?three-stage plan? of the conflict resolution can be regarded as a real basis for further talks. The plan was voiced by President Saakashvili last September and envisages demilitarization of the conflict zone at the first stage; confidence-building measures at the second stage and a comprehensive political settlement of the conflict at the third stage.  

The JCC has also proposed to organize talks between Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli and South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity ?in the near future? and a meeting of the parliamentarians, as well as representatives of civil society organizations from Georgia and the breakaway region in the beginning of 2006. 

According to the Russian MFA the JCC has also noted importance to launch development of ?favorable economic zone? in South Ossetia to help boost the regions economy. The JCC once again called for the demilitarization of the conflict zone.
 
Participations of the JCC noted the situation in the conflict zone has been extremely aggravated after brining into the conflict zone military hardware and mortar attack of Tskhinvali on September 20. Military hardware was stationed in Tskhinvali by the South Ossetian side to mark the unrecognized republic?s independence day. Moscow and Tskhinvali have accused Tbilisi of a mortar attack, but the Georgian side has strongly denied allegations.

The JCC has welcomed initiative by the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel to hold the next JCC session in Ljubljana, Slovenia on November 15-16.

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