OSCE appoints new co-chairman for Geneva talks

Georgia, Tbilisi, Jan.13 / Trend N. Kirtskhalia / Pádraig Murphy has been appointed as new co-chairman of Geneva talks on tension prevention in Georgia from the OSCE. As the Georgian Foreign Ministry said, new OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore made this statement addressing the OSCE Permanent Council's meeting in Vienna. Gilmore expressed "strong support" for the process of international discussions on security and stability in the Caucasus, which are underway in Geneva with the participation of Russia, Georgia, USA, European Union, UN and OSCE. Next, the 19th round of Geneva talks is scheduled for March 28-29. Gilmore said that the current situation in Georgia is a "subject of specific concern". He stressed that Ireland, which chairs the OSCE after Lithuania, seeks to "find the ways that will make it possible to achieve progress towards a lasting settlement of several conflicts in the OSCE area", emphasizing that it also concerns "conflicts in Georgia regarding Abkhazia and South Ossetia". Geneva talks were convened after armed conflict in Georgia in August 2008 in compliance with ceasefire agreement dated Aug.12. Military actions were launched in the Georgian territory, South Ossetia on Aug.8 in 2008. Later the Russian troops occupied the Tskhinvali city and drove the Georgian military back. Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in late August. In response, Tbilisi broke off diplomatic relations with Moscow and announced two unrecognized republics as the occupied territories. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az