WORLD
EU CONCERNED OVER DEVELOPMENT OF SITUATION IN SOUTH OSSETIA
The EU resolutely calls on all sides concerned to show maximum restraint and completely observe the conditions of the cease fire agreement, the statement noted. The EU considers the stabilisation of the situation in the region a priority task.
Further violations of the cease fire agreement and the non-fulfilment of the decisions of the Joint Control Committee could easily lead to further escalation of the highly explosive situation, the document runs. On the other hand a stable cease fire agreement could be the basis for serious talks that would promote a political settlement.
The EU believes that the demilitarisation of the conflict zone excluding joint peacekeeping forces is a serious prerequisite for defusing the current crisis.
The EU and all sides concerned intend to charge the special envoy in the South Caucasus to study possibilities of more effective assistance to a political settlement of the crisis particularly in cooperation with the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
The special envoy will continue the political dialogue of the EU with Russia on the crisis in South Ossetia as a pressing problem
The EU also adopted the OSCE intention to urgently consider a possibility of expanding monitoring in the conflict zone.
The EU wants to remind once more of its support to sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and the need to settle conflicts through talks, the statement emphasised.