NEWS

Statement by OSCE Special Representative following meeting of the Geneva Discussions

            GENEVA, 14 October 2010 - The Geneva Discussions have for the last two years served as a structure to discuss possible solutions in the area of security, stability and humanitarian issues, said Bolat Nurgaliyev, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, following a meeting in Geneva today.

"The tasks of the Geneva process remain as relevant and urgent as ever for reconciliation. I am deeply convinced that the Dvani/Ergneti Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism has the potential to positively impact the daily lives of many people," Nurgaliyev said.

He and the other two Co-Chairs of the Geneva Discussions, Pierre Morel of the EU and Antti Turunen of the UN, repeated their calls for resumption of regular meetings of the Dvani/Ergneti Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism.

            Nurgaliyev informed the participants that the OSCE is ready to start working on a number of projects, including repairing the Zonkari dam as a practical and a confidence-building measure, to be funded by the EU. Quick repair of the dam will improve its safety and restore its potential to provide irrigation water, he said.

            The discussions took place in two parallel working groups; one looked at security and stability in the region and the other looked at humanitarian questions.

            The Co-Chairs agreed with the participants that the next meeting would be in Geneva on 16 December 2010.

Date of issue: 2010-10-14