Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE73789
2009-07-15 21:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:
OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON ABKHAZIA JIPRM MEETING
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UNCLAS STATE 073789
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OSCE PREL PGOV GG
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON ABKHAZIA JIPRM MEETING
UNCLAS STATE 073789
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OSCE PREL PGOV GG
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON ABKHAZIA JIPRM MEETING
1. Post is authorized to make the following statement at the
July 16, 2009, meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in
Vienna.
Begin text:
Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
The United States welcomes the July 14 meeting of the joint
incident prevention and response mechanism for the Abkhazia
region of Georgia. We view this initial meeting as an
important first step towards strengthening security and
stability in the region, and hope to see meetings convened on
a regular basis in the future.
We urge the representatives of the South Ossetian region of
Georgia to lift the conditions they have placed on the
further implementation of the mechanism, and to put aside
differences and engage constructively in discussions of
pressing security concerns.
Ongoing incidents along the administrative boundary lines
underscore the need for an effective mechanism to prevent
these incidents from escalating. Uninhibited access for
international monitors to the whole of Georgia, including its
South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions, is critically important
to prevent violence and promote respect for human rights.
Madam Chairwoman, the United States remains convinced that
the international community can play a vital role in
restoring security and stability in Georgia. We firmly
support OSCE, UN, and EU coordination of the Geneva
discussions, and hope to see concrete progress in future
meetings. We also remain ready to work with our partners to
find a way to continue the OSCE,s valuable work in Georgia,
which was brought to a halt by Russia,s rejection in May of
a status-neutral proposal put forward by the Greek
Chairmanship and supported by the overwhelming majority of
OSCE participating States.
The United States will continue to advocate an international
presence throughout Georgia, including its Abkhazia and South
Ossetia regions, and to call for free and unhindered
humanitarian access to the separatist regions, as provided
for in UN Security Council Resolution 1866 last February, and
in the August 12 cease-fire agreement. We will also continue
to urge respect for the human rights of all individuals in
the conflict areas, and to call for the safe, dignified, and
voluntary return of internally displaced persons and refugees.
Madam Chairwoman, the United States remains deeply concerned
by the fact that Russia continues to flout the provisions of
the August 12 and September 8 agreements, under which Russia
committed not only to withdraw its troops to the positions
held prior to the start of hostilities, but also to provide
free and unhindered humanitarian access to the South Ossetia
and Abkhazia regions of Georgia. Russia,s decision to
characterize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent does
not relieve Russia of these commitments.
The United States remains committed to peaceful conflict
resolution, and will continue to support Georgia,s
sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity within
its internationally recognized borders.
Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
End text.
CLINTON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OSCE PREL PGOV GG
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON ABKHAZIA JIPRM MEETING
1. Post is authorized to make the following statement at the
July 16, 2009, meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in
Vienna.
Begin text:
Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
The United States welcomes the July 14 meeting of the joint
incident prevention and response mechanism for the Abkhazia
region of Georgia. We view this initial meeting as an
important first step towards strengthening security and
stability in the region, and hope to see meetings convened on
a regular basis in the future.
We urge the representatives of the South Ossetian region of
Georgia to lift the conditions they have placed on the
further implementation of the mechanism, and to put aside
differences and engage constructively in discussions of
pressing security concerns.
Ongoing incidents along the administrative boundary lines
underscore the need for an effective mechanism to prevent
these incidents from escalating. Uninhibited access for
international monitors to the whole of Georgia, including its
South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions, is critically important
to prevent violence and promote respect for human rights.
Madam Chairwoman, the United States remains convinced that
the international community can play a vital role in
restoring security and stability in Georgia. We firmly
support OSCE, UN, and EU coordination of the Geneva
discussions, and hope to see concrete progress in future
meetings. We also remain ready to work with our partners to
find a way to continue the OSCE,s valuable work in Georgia,
which was brought to a halt by Russia,s rejection in May of
a status-neutral proposal put forward by the Greek
Chairmanship and supported by the overwhelming majority of
OSCE participating States.
The United States will continue to advocate an international
presence throughout Georgia, including its Abkhazia and South
Ossetia regions, and to call for free and unhindered
humanitarian access to the separatist regions, as provided
for in UN Security Council Resolution 1866 last February, and
in the August 12 cease-fire agreement. We will also continue
to urge respect for the human rights of all individuals in
the conflict areas, and to call for the safe, dignified, and
voluntary return of internally displaced persons and refugees.
Madam Chairwoman, the United States remains deeply concerned
by the fact that Russia continues to flout the provisions of
the August 12 and September 8 agreements, under which Russia
committed not only to withdraw its troops to the positions
held prior to the start of hostilities, but also to provide
free and unhindered humanitarian access to the South Ossetia
and Abkhazia regions of Georgia. Russia,s decision to
characterize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent does
not relieve Russia of these commitments.
The United States remains committed to peaceful conflict
resolution, and will continue to support Georgia,s
sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity within
its internationally recognized borders.
Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
End text.
CLINTON