OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: CONTINGENCY STATEMENT ON

UNCLAS STATE 107284 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV MOPPS OSCE PREL AF SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: CONTINGENCY STATEMENT ON GEORGIA ¶1. (U) Post is authorized to draw from the following statement at the October 15 meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council if the Tagliavini Report is raised. Begin text: Thank you, Madam Chair. We note that the report cited today was produced by an independent commission whose findings are solely its own. My government is carefully reviewing those findings. Like other OSCE partners, we are focused on efforts to achieve a long-term, peaceful resolution to the conflict, and to develop better mechanisms for preventing and resolving crises. As we look to the future, we must seek to address a number of outstanding concerns. More than a year after the war in Georgia, the security situation remains tense, and civilians continue to suffer. We must urge Russia to fulfill the provisions of the August 12 and September 8 agreements, including the return of Russian troops to pre-war positions and finally granting unhindered humanitarian access to Georgia,s separatist regions. We encourage all concerned parties to participate constructively in the Geneva discussions and related mechanisms to rapidly address mutual issues of concern. We must ensure the continued involvement of the international community, and seek to establish an international presence in the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. We appreciate the tireless efforts of the Greek Chairmanship and Special Representative Christopoulos in this regard, and remain committed to OSCE's continued involvement in Georgia. In addition, Madam Chair, we must continue to urge respect for the human rights of all individuals in the conflict areas; call for free and unhindered humanitarian access to the separatist regions; and call for the safe, dignified, and voluntary return of internally displaced persons and refugees. The United States remains committed to helping the parties achieve a long-term, peaceful resolution to the conflict, and will continue to support Georgia,s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. Thank you, Madam Chair. CLINTON