OSCE Chairman Calls for Talks over South Ossetia

The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, urged all parties involved in the South Ossetian conflict to return to the negotiating table, exercise restraint and refrain from any unilateral actions that might worsen the situation, the OSCE press office reported.

“It is now important to resume the dialogue. All parties should take on a constructive approach in the spirit of the ‘Statement on Georgia’ adopted at the OSCE Ministerial Council in December 2005 in Ljubljana. There are pressing issues to be addressed, such as the need for urgent demilitarization and further progress on peace initiatives,” the OSCE Chairman-in-Office said.

Karel De Gucht discussed the situation in South Ossetia with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a phone conversation on February 21. “Both agreed that it was imperative to restart political negotiations,” according to the OSCE.

Karel De Gucht also expressed regret that the meeting of the Joint Control Commission (JCC) could not take place as planned on 20 and 21 February in Vienna. Russia refused to participate in the Vienna session of JCC.

“We are disappointed that appropriate opportunities to resume the political dialogue are not being used,” Minister De Gucht said.

He also said that he plans to send his Special Representative – Senator Pierre Chevalier – back to the region. Senator Chevalier has already traveled to Georgia on February 16-17.

“He will continue to talk to the parties and to look into possibilities to organize a meeting at the political level as soon as possible, in Brussels or any other city acceptable to all parties,” he said.