RESOLUTION OF THE OSCE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY ADOPTED AT THE SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL SESSION on the security environment in Georgia

Astana, 29 June to 3 July 2008.

1. Noting the growing instability within the conflict zones in Georgia against the backdrop of the decision of the Government of the Russian Federation to strengthen official ties with secessionist regimes in the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions,

2. Concerned by the unilateral decision of the Government of the Russian Federation to move additional military personnel into the Abkhazia region of Georgia under the aegis of the Commonwealth of Independent States Peacekeeping Force, of which Russia is the only troop-contributing country,

3. Acknowledging that the Russian Federation’s issuance of passports to residents of the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions of Georgia, and the Government of the Russian Federation’s assertion of the right to defend these people by military force, constitute a challenge to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia,

4. Believing that the situation described above could exacerbate an already volatile situation in these regions and might lead, however unintentionally, to renewed armed conflict in those regions,

5. Concerned that renewed armed conflict in those regions would lead to a deterioration of the broader European security environment,

6. Noting that the Government of Georgia has offered extensive autonomy to Abkhazia and South Ossetia within the framework of a sovereign Georgian state, The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:

7. Urges the Government of the Russian Federation, in its contacts with the de facto authorities of the secessionist regions of Georgia, to refrain from maintaining ties with those regions in any manner that would constitute a challenge to the sovereignty of Georgia;

8. Urges the Russian Federation to abide by OSCE standards and generally accepted international norms with respect to the threat or use of force to resolve conflicts in relations with other participating States.

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