OSCE committed to help Georgia address consequences of 2008 conflict

Azerbaijan, Baku, June 12 / Trend /

On a visit to Georgia on Tuesday, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Eamon Gilmore, stressed the OSCE's continued engagement in the country, including its commitment to helping Georgia address the consequences of the 2008 conflict, the OSCE said in a statement.

"The OSCE supports the Geneva Discussions as the forum for resolving issues stemming from the 2008 conflict," the Chairperson said following his meeting with Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze. "The Geneva process is the only way forward and it is moving in a positive direction."

"The OSCE is engaged in Georgia and we want to do more. We are exploring ways of having an OSCE presence on the ground. Currently the OSCE is working on projects that help improve the lives of people affected by the conflict, including improving the water supply for the affected communities and facilitating exchanges of detainees," Gilmore noted.

Talking about the forthcoming parliamentary elections in October, the Chairperson said: "I welcome the timely invitation to the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to observe the upcoming parliamentary elections and urge the Georgian authorities to make every effort possible to ensure that the elections are in line with OSCE and international standards."

This evening he also met the Chairman of the Parliament, David Bakradze, and tomorrow he will meet President Mikheil Saakashvili, Minister for Reintegration Eka Tkeshelashvili and representatives of the opposition parties.

Military actions were launched in the Georgian territory, South Ossetia on Aug.8 in 2008. Later the Russian troops occupied the Tskhinvali city and drove the Georgian military back. Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in late August. In response, Tbilisi broke off diplomatic relations with Moscow and announced two unrecognized republics as the occupied territories.

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