U.S. Calls on OSCE to Expand its Activities through Entire S.Ossetia

The U.S. diplomat has called on the OSCE for expansion of the zone of activities of its monitors in South Ossetia to include entire territory of the breakaway region and to increase the number of its monitors.

U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE Julie Finley said while addressing the organization?s Permanent Council in Vienna on July 13 that Russia?s decision to close down the only legally operating border crossing checkpoint with Georgia ?further underscores the need for the OSCE to promote Georgia’s ability to exercise sovereign control over its borders in order to facilitate legal trade in the region and reduce the smuggling, criminal activity, and flow of weapons and dangerous materials that are a result of the persisting unresolved conflicts.?

Currently the OSCE observers operate only in the South Ossetian conflict zone, which does not include the breakaway region?s northern part, including the Roki Tunnel, which links the unrecognized republic with the Russia?s North Ossetia.

The U.S. diplomat also said that closure of the Zemo Larsi border crossing point by Russia ?is unacceptable and must be resolved quickly.?

?The unilateral halt to the legal flow of people and goods across the Georgia-Russia border harms the economic and humanitarian interests of the people of the region and beyond, including the population of Armenia,? Julie Finley said.

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