Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins expresses regret about non-extension of OSCE mandate in Georgia [23 Dec 2008]

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia notes with regret that on 22 December the member countries of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) failed to reach an agreement regarding an extension of the OSCE mission in Georgia.

The OSCE mission in Georgia has a vital role not only in the settlement of conflict in Georgia but also for the improvement of the situation in such important areas as human rights and humanitarian standards, and in the promotion of democratic freedoms and the operation of non-governmental organisations.

The Foreign Ministry expresses hope that next year the OSCE members would reach a consensus on the resumption of OSCE mission activities in Georgia, thus securing the international presence in Georgia and providing assistance in conflict resolution and in other areas of importance for Georgia and for the region as a whole.

"The failure to agree on extending the mandate of the OSCE mission in Georgia endangers the possibilities for the international community to obtain direct information on the processes in the whole territory of Georgia. I call on the Russian side to evaluate its position to date in this context and to support the extension of OSCE observers' mission," Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins indicated.

The Foreign Ministry reiterates that in the situation when the presence of international observers in Georgia has been reduced, the issue of securing access by the EU observer mission in Georgia to the whole territory of the country has become particularly sensitive.

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