STATEMENT OF THE CO-CHAIRMEN OF THE JOINT
CONTROL COMMISSION ON GEORGIAN-OSSETIAN CONFLICT RESOLUTION
With regard to the
escalation of the situation in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict, an
extraordinary meeting of the Joint Control Commission Cochairmen with OSCE
participation took place in Tskhinvali on June 2, 2004, to discuss issues
pertaining to the de-escalation of the situation.
The sides noted the
need in future to exclude incidents similar to those that have recently
occurred in the conflict zone and have resulted in the dangerous escalation of
tension.
The JCC Co-chairmen
stressed the unacceptability of using coercive, economic or any other forms of
pressure in the conflict settlement process, and pointed to the need for
strictly complying with the achieved agreements, fulfilling commitments,
avoiding any actions or statements that could destabilize the situation in the
conflict zone.
The JCC Co-chairmen underlined
that continuing presence in the conflict area of armed units not provided for
by the existing agreements could further escalate tension and undermine the
process of peaceful conflict resolution.
The meeting
participants noted with satisfaction the preparedness of the Georgian side to
immediately withdraw additionally deployed units of the Georgian armed forces
from the JPKF responsibility area.
Tskhinval, 2 June 2004
(Archive of the OSCE