OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON GEORGIA

UNCLAS STATE 045889

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OSCE PREL PGOV GG
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON GEORGIA


1. Post is authorized to deliver the following statement at
the May 7, 2009, Permanent Council meeting in Vienna:

Begin text:

Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.

Last week I declared "wholly unwelcome" the April 30
agreement allowing the stationing of Russian border guards
along the administrative boundaries of the Georgian regions
of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Today, I reiterate the United
States' serious concern. This action, together with media
reports of Russia's apparent decision to deploy thousands of
additional troops to these territories, contravenes Russia's
commitments under the August 12 cease-fire agreement,
undermines the principles of the Charter for European
Security, and violates Georgia's territorial integrity.

At last week's Permanent Council meeting, Ambassador Azimov
described these border arrangements as "one further step in
strengthening security in the Trans-Caucasus region." We
believe the de facto establishment by Russia of "borders"
marks instead an unwelcome step in the opposite direction and
sets back efforts to broker a lasting peace.

We again call on Russia to honor the commitments made under
the August 12 and September 8 agreements. We urge Russia to
withdraw its troops to the numbers and positions held prior
to the start of the conflict, to allow unfettered
humanitarian access to the separatist regions, and to allow
human rights and multilateral organizations to investigate
allegations of ethnic cleansing and other abuses.

We also urge Russia to ensure human rights are protected and
international humanitarian law is observed in those areas of
Georgia controlled by Russian military forces. Continuing
detentions and kidnappings, attacks on private property,
police killings, and other incidents of violence suggest that
Russia is not protecting civilians or maintaining order and
underscore again the importance of securing access for
international monitors to the South Ossetian and Abkhaz
regions of Georgia.

The United States believes that international monitoring and
the effective operation of the incident prevention and
response mechanisms agreed in Geneva can play a critical role
in reducing tensions in the region. We strongly urge all
parties to meet regularly with international monitors to
address security incidents and prevent them from escalating
into wider conflicts. We also urge all parties to allow for
joint visits, together with international monitors, to the
sites of incidents.

Like other delegations, we believe that a robust OSCE
presence can help restore stability in Georgia. The
Chairmanship has worked tirelessly to configure an OSCE
presence acceptable to all delegations, and has prepared a
draft decision that artfully avoids the primary divisive
issue and focuses instead on practical arrangements to allow
the OSCE to continue to support the Geneva process agreed by
all parties and to facilitate conflict resolution efforts.
The United States believes firmly in the vital importance of
a unified OSCE monitoring operation that can freely operate
across the South Ossetian administrative boundary line. We
urge all delegations to work with the Chairmanship in a
spirit of good faith and genuine compromise to reach swift
agreement on the basis of this proposal, and refrain from
introducing contentious status issues.

Madame Chairwoman, I said last week that if we cannot resolve
persistent and outstanding conflicts in the OSCE region, we
will find it difficult to build a Europe that is more secure
and at peace. Progress on the conflicts in Georgia would
help build confidence and facilitate any discussions of
European security.

The United States remains committed to finding a peaceful
resolution to the conflicts in Georgia, and will continue to
support Georgia's sovereignty, independence, and territorial
integrity within its internationally recognized borders.

Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
CLINTON