Missile Incident Discussed at OSCE

The OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) has been briefed on the August 6 missile incident by foreign experts who investigated the case.

Two separate groups of 13 technical experts from seven western countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States) backed Tbilisi?s version of events, saying that at least one aircraft had intruded into Georgian airspace from Russia and dropped a guided anti-radar missile deep into Georgian territory. A group of Russian military experts, however, concluded that the incident had been staged by Tbilisi to discredit Moscow.

?It was an opportunity for continued dialogue and for all sides to air their views,? said Ambassador John Bernhard, who chairs the FSC on behalf of Denmark. “We are confident that Russia, Georgia and all countries involved are looking to the future and for ways to avoid similar incidents.”

Georgian officials said after the discussions that Russia still insists that the incident was staged, while western experts have again reiterated their findings.

It is still unclear whether the issue will be discussed by the OSCE Permanent Council.

The previous discussion of the issue by the OSCE Permanent Council in early September highlighted the unequivocal U.S. support for Tbilisi, the EU?s noncommittal response and Moscow?s interest in limiting the international scope of the August 6 incident.

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