Clinton, Medvedev disagree on OSCE role in Georgia

Wed, 01 Dec 2010

Astana, Kazakhstan - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton put herself on a collision course with Russia Wednesday by calling for re-establishment of a mission in Georgia by the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Clinton, speaking at the OSCE summit in the Kazakh capital Astana, implicitly criticized Moscow, which in 2009 vetoed the continuation of the OSCE's Georgia mission after the 2008 war with Georgia over the breakaway region of South Ossetia.

"It is regrettable that a participating state (Georgia) proposed to host a mission, and the OSCE has not been has not been allowed to respond," Clinton said. We here at this table must let this organization do its job and restore a meaningful OSCE presence in Georgia."

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, in earlier remarks, blamed Georgia for the conflict with South Ossetia, accusing it of improper use of force.

This is "absolutely unacceptable." he said. "Today we must not deviate from OSCE principles."

Clinton said she hoped a ceasefire pledge by Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili would create the ground for negotiations on the conflict.

Like Clinton, Medvedev called for updating the OSCE's mission to meet new security needs. He also urged removal of visa requirements between Russia and Europe and creation of a new security pact for Europe.

Among Washington's goals for the summit are a renewal of formal negotiations on the conflict in Moldova's Transdniestria region and an updating of OSCE principles on confidence- and security-building measures, Clinton said.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/356012,disagree-osce-role-georgia.html.