Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE17751
2009-02-25 23:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:
OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON GEORGIA AND
how-toVZCZCXRO2674 PP RUEHAST RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR DE RUEHC #7751 0562328 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P R 252312Z FEB 09 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 7985 INFO ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS STATE 017751
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OSCE PGOV PREL GG
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON GEORGIA AND
THE GENEVA PROCES
UNCLAS STATE 017751
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OSCE PGOV PREL GG
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON GEORGIA AND
THE GENEVA PROCES
1. Post is authorized to make the following statement at the
February 26, 2009, meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in
Vienna:
Begin Text:
Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
The United States commends OSCE, EU, and UN coordination of
the February 17-18 round of Geneva talks, and welcomes the
agreement to open new lines of communication to prevent new
clashes and defuse tensions. While we would have liked to see
further agreement on the modalities of the mechanisms to
prevent and manage security incidents, we welcome this first
step.
Good-faith implementation of the agreed incident prevention
and response mechanisms is critical. We strongly urge all
parties to meet regularly with international monitors to
address continuing security incidents and abuses and address
then prevent them from escalating into wider conflicts. We
also call on all parties to allow for joint visits, together
with international monitors, to the sites of incidents.
These mechanisms should become operational as soon as
possible.
Access for international monitors to the South Ossetian and
Abkhaz regions of Georgia is essential. Repeated incidents
of violence, including kidnappings and killings of Georgian
policemen and civilians, underscore the need for uninhibited
access to the whole of Georgia. Together with international
monitors, the incident prevention and response mechanisms can
help deter violence, ensure the safety and protection of
civilians, promote human rights, and further the
implementation of the August 12 and September 8 ceasefire
agreements. We also call on Russia to ensure the rule of law
and respect for human rights are upheld in those areas of
Georgia where Russian military forces are now present.
We regret that the Geneva talks failed to produce agreement
on access to the South Ossetian region of Georgia for
shipments of humanitarian aid. It is difficult to understand
why the South Ossetian and Russian participants could not
accept a one-time delivery of humanitarian assistance by the
UN and EU via the cheapest and safest route, from undisputed
Georgian territory to Tskhinvali. We call on all parties to
allow the "free" and "unhindered" flow of humanitarian
assistance, as called for in point three of the August 12
Medvedev-Saakashvili ceasefire agreement and UN Security
Council Resolution 1866. We also fully support the Co-Chairs
of the Geneva discussions in calling for the resumption of
the talks in March or April to discuss the critical issues of
security and non-use of force. This is no time for delay.
Like other delegations, we are convinced the OSCE has played
and can continue to play a vital role in restoring stability
in Georgia. We note the valuable work of the OSCE in
restoring natural gas flows from undisputed Georgian
territory to the South Ossetian region, and urge South
Ossetian representatives to honor their pledge to guarantee
water supplies throughout the conflict zone. We believe the
OSCE can offer unique expertise in these efforts. We urge
all parties to carefully consider the recommendations of the
recent OSCE assessment of irrigation and potable water supply
systems, and to work together to find a practical, mutually
beneficial solution.
Madam Chairwoman, the United States believes a continued OSCE
presence in Georgia is critical. We welcome your
constructive proposal to allow the OSCE to continue its
important work in South Ossetia and the rest of Georgia
without violating any OSCE member state,s redlines regarding
South Ossetia,s political status. We urge all delegations
to work with the Chairmanship here in Vienna in a spirit of
good will and collaboration to reach agreement on the basis
of your constructive proposal.
The United States will continue to support Georgia,s
sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity within
its internationally recognized borders, and will help in all
ways to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
CLINTON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OSCE PGOV PREL GG
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON GEORGIA AND
THE GENEVA PROCES
1. Post is authorized to make the following statement at the
February 26, 2009, meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in
Vienna:
Begin Text:
Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
The United States commends OSCE, EU, and UN coordination of
the February 17-18 round of Geneva talks, and welcomes the
agreement to open new lines of communication to prevent new
clashes and defuse tensions. While we would have liked to see
further agreement on the modalities of the mechanisms to
prevent and manage security incidents, we welcome this first
step.
Good-faith implementation of the agreed incident prevention
and response mechanisms is critical. We strongly urge all
parties to meet regularly with international monitors to
address continuing security incidents and abuses and address
then prevent them from escalating into wider conflicts. We
also call on all parties to allow for joint visits, together
with international monitors, to the sites of incidents.
These mechanisms should become operational as soon as
possible.
Access for international monitors to the South Ossetian and
Abkhaz regions of Georgia is essential. Repeated incidents
of violence, including kidnappings and killings of Georgian
policemen and civilians, underscore the need for uninhibited
access to the whole of Georgia. Together with international
monitors, the incident prevention and response mechanisms can
help deter violence, ensure the safety and protection of
civilians, promote human rights, and further the
implementation of the August 12 and September 8 ceasefire
agreements. We also call on Russia to ensure the rule of law
and respect for human rights are upheld in those areas of
Georgia where Russian military forces are now present.
We regret that the Geneva talks failed to produce agreement
on access to the South Ossetian region of Georgia for
shipments of humanitarian aid. It is difficult to understand
why the South Ossetian and Russian participants could not
accept a one-time delivery of humanitarian assistance by the
UN and EU via the cheapest and safest route, from undisputed
Georgian territory to Tskhinvali. We call on all parties to
allow the "free" and "unhindered" flow of humanitarian
assistance, as called for in point three of the August 12
Medvedev-Saakashvili ceasefire agreement and UN Security
Council Resolution 1866. We also fully support the Co-Chairs
of the Geneva discussions in calling for the resumption of
the talks in March or April to discuss the critical issues of
security and non-use of force. This is no time for delay.
Like other delegations, we are convinced the OSCE has played
and can continue to play a vital role in restoring stability
in Georgia. We note the valuable work of the OSCE in
restoring natural gas flows from undisputed Georgian
territory to the South Ossetian region, and urge South
Ossetian representatives to honor their pledge to guarantee
water supplies throughout the conflict zone. We believe the
OSCE can offer unique expertise in these efforts. We urge
all parties to carefully consider the recommendations of the
recent OSCE assessment of irrigation and potable water supply
systems, and to work together to find a practical, mutually
beneficial solution.
Madam Chairwoman, the United States believes a continued OSCE
presence in Georgia is critical. We welcome your
constructive proposal to allow the OSCE to continue its
important work in South Ossetia and the rest of Georgia
without violating any OSCE member state,s redlines regarding
South Ossetia,s political status. We urge all delegations
to work with the Chairmanship here in Vienna in a spirit of
good will and collaboration to reach agreement on the basis
of your constructive proposal.
The United States will continue to support Georgia,s
sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity within
its internationally recognized borders, and will help in all
ways to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
CLINTON