Russia Against Expansion of OSCE Mandate in South Ossetia

In a statement issued on July 31, the Russian Foreign Ministry denounced Georgia?s proposal to expand the OSCE?s mandate in breakaway South Ossetia.

The statement reads that Georgia?s proposal to increase the number of OSCE observers in South Ossetia and deploy them on the Russian border ?is unrealistic.?

?This kind of proposals aims at switching the attention from the major problem and hinder reaching decisions that would really foster putting an end to the escalation of tensions in the region,? the statement reads.

Moscow, which frequently accuses the OSCE of biased reporting over the situation in the conflict zone in favor of Georgia, said that an increase in the number of observers will not increase the efficiency of the OSCE?s activity in the region.

?Unbiased assessment of the situation is essential and not the increase of the number of observers,? the Russian Foreign Ministry?s statement reads.

Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili urged the OSCE to increase its role in the South Ossetian conflict resolution issues at a session of the organization?s decision-making body Permanent Council in Vienna on July 29.

Tbilisi, particularly wants the OSCE to monitor the Roki pass, which links breakaway South Ossetia with Russia?s North Ossetian Republic. Tbilisi blames Russia for providing arms to the breakaway region via Roki pass. Tbilisi also wants OSCE observers to monitor the Java district of the breakaway region, which serves as a stronghold for the separatist forces. 

U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE Stephan Minikes told the Permanent Council in Vienna on July 29 that the United States strongly supports the work of the OSCE Mission in Georgia, as well as the Georgian government’s proposal to expand the mission’s mandate so it can “continue to play an even more active and productive role in the settlement process.”

The OSCE Mission in Georgia has been working with the conflicting parties and the international community on ways of defining the political status of South Ossetia within Georgia since 1992. It also monitors the tripartite peacekeeping forces deployed in the region, liaises with the quadripartite Joint Control Commission and collects information on the military situation.