OSCE Ministerial Council Adopts Statement on Georgia

The OSCE Ministerial Council in Ljubljana unanimously adopted a statement on Georgia on December 6, reiterating all 55 member states? ?firm commitment to support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia.?

The statement welcomes the Georgian peace plan over South Ossetia and notes the need to increase the effectiveness of the existing negotiating format in frames of the quadripartite Joint Control Commission, involving the Georgian, South Ossetian, Russian and Russia?s North Ossetian sides.

?We welcome the steps taken by the Georgian side to address the peaceful resolution of the conflict and believe that the recent proposals, in particular the Peace Plan built upon the initiatives of the President of Georgia presented at the 59th United Nations General Assembly [in September, 2004] and supported by the sides, will serve as a basis for the peaceful settlement of the conflict,? the statement reads.

?We underline the need to increase the effectiveness of existing negotiation mechanisms, including the Joint Control Commission, and to fully implement the decisions agreed within their framework.?

The statement also says that in recent months ?the positive dynamics of the peace process have been disrupted by violent actions?

The document also notes a uregent need for a meeting between Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli with South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity.

The statement also calls for implementation of agreed measures for stabilization of the situation in South Ossetia, ?in particular the early and complete demilitarization of the zone of conflict.?

The statement hails the agreement reached between the Georgian and Russian Foreign Ministers on May 30, 2005 on a timeframe of withdrawal of Russian military bases from Batumi and Akhalkalaki.

?We look forward to further progress in the ongoing negotiation process both to enable a multinational mission to Gudauta [in breakaway Abkhazia] and to establish its purpose,? the statement reads. Tbilisi believes Russia still keeps a military presence in Gudauta.

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