Kazakhstan, Astana, Dec. 1 / corr Trend A.Maratov /
Germany is adhered to sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and is for efforts for strengthening security and improving humanitarian situation, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at the OSCE summit in Astana.
"I am for the OSCE's visible presence in Georgia," Merkel said.
Merkel believes during the conflict in Georgia in August 2008 the observers faced serious crisis of confidence and thanks to Corfu process it was possible to overcome it.
Military actions were launched in the unrecognized republic of South Ossetia in August 2008. Georgian troops entered Tskhinvali, with Russian troops later occupying the city. The Russian armed forces drove the Georgian military back into Georgia proper. Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on Aug. 26.
In reply Tbilisi broke diplomatic ties with Moscow and declared the two unrecognized republics its occupied territory.
The OSCE Observation Mission ceased its work in Georgia in June 2009. Russia put a veto on continuing the operations, stating on impartiality of the organization.
Security in the OSCE countries is one of the main topics that the summit participants discuss in Astana. The OSCE summit is an outstanding event in the political life of Kazakhstan since independence. It runs on Wednesday and Thursday and bring together the heads of states and governments of all member countries and 12 partner countries and the heads of 68 international organizations.
Given that the OSCE is a consultative body, the only way to discuss the urgent issues is such summits. Over the years, the situation in the sphere of security in the world and the threats has changed dramatically, and the OSCE summit in Astana creates an opportunity for countries to discuss the existing problems.