Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 12/ Trend , E. Ostapenko/ The 56 OSCE participating States agreed today to
extend until 30 June the presence of the Organization's unarmed military monitoring officers in Georgia, the OSCE press release said.
"[The OSCE] Permanent Council decides to extend until 30 June 2009, its decision No. 861 of 19 August 2008, without prejudice to any further PC decisions on the future OSCE presence," the decision states.
The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, welcomed the move. "This decision to extend the mandate of the OSCE monitors shows that all States agree that the Organization is a critical part of international efforts to secure lasting stability in the region," she said.
"I am confident that we can build on this consensus to ensure that the OSCE will be able to continue its important work for all peoples in the region and help to address urgent humanitarian challenges," Bakoyannis said.
The mandate of the OSCE Mission to Georgia ended on December 312008 and is not affected by today's decision. The OSCE mission has been in Georgia since 1992.
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