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EU backs continued OSCE work in Georgia: Czech Foreign Minister

Politics Materials 29 January 2009 15:53 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 29 / Trend , E.Ostapenko /

The European Union supports efforts by the OSCE to find ways to enable the Organization to continue its important work in Georgia, Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg told the OSCE Permanent Council today.

"The EU intends to continue its engagement in Georgia but this engagement cannot replace the valuable OSCE presence. We see both missions as complementary and mutually reinforcing," said Schwarzenberg, whose country holds the EU Presidency.

The 56 participating States did not reach consensus in December to renew the mandate of the OSCE Mission to Georgia, but the Greek OSCE Chairmanship is leading negotiations on the Organization's presence in Georgia.

Noting that the EU and the OSCE share the goals of securing peace and deepening co-operation, Schwarzenberg said that the Czech EU Presidency would seek to extend the close co-operation between the two groups.

The OSCE is making an invaluable contribution towards security, stability and the rule law also today, although several developments in recent years have put at stake the basic principles of this Organization. The Permanent Council, one of the OSCE's main regular decision-making bodies, convenes weekly in Vienna to discuss developments in the OSCE area and to make appropriate decisions

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