OSCE Chief Calls for Fresh Talks over South Ossetia

In a statement issued on July 30, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, expressed his deep concern over the further deterioration of the situation in the South Ossetian conflict zone and called on the conflicting parties to follow pervious agreements to help defuse tensions.

Several people from the both sides were wounded as a result of an overnight clash between the Georgian and South Ossetian forces on July 30.

“Such actions might have dire consequences for both sides and also for the security of the entire region,” said Minister Passy, according to a press release issued by the OSCE on July 30.

The OSCE Chairman-in-Office called on both sides to:

• Implement without delay the decisions taken by the Joint Control Commission meeting on 2 June and 15 July, particularly regarding the removal of unauthorized checkpoints and paramilitary formations;
  
  
  
• Immediately withdraw from the zone of conflict all paramilitary and police personnel not required for normal policing duties and the demobilization of local “self-defense” units;
  
  
  
• Organize as soon as possible a meeting of the Joint Control Commission to discuss further measures to achieve effective demilitarization in the area;
  
  
  
• In the meantime to encourage the technical expert group meeting in Tskhinvali to agree effective measures to control the situation and reduce tension.

Minister Passy stressed that he would continue to closely monitor the situation. He reiterated his readiness to invite the parties to Sofia, Bulgaria for a meeting at a high political level to discuss measures to achieve resolution of the conflict.

“A meeting at this level has only been held once in the history of this conflict. It is high time now to resume,” said the Chairman-in-Office.