U.S. Condemns S.Ossetia Polls

Independence referendum and presidential elections in breakaway South Ossetia scheduled for November 12 will only serve ?to exacerbate tensions and divert attention from the need to peacefully resolve the conflict,? , the U.S. Department of State said in a statement on November 8.

?The United States supports Georgia?s sovereignty and territorial integrity. As the international community has made clear, South Ossetia is a part of Georgia. We call on Tskhinvali and Tbilisi to engage in direct talks to find a peaceful solution that defines the status of South Ossetia within Georgia?s internationally recognized borders, while affording South Ossetia significant autonomy within a unified Georgia,? the statement reads.

The U.S. Department of State also said that implementation of OSCE-backed economic rehabilitation programs can ease current tensions, build confidence, and lay the foundation for such talks.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)