Georgia: Extra OSCE Monitors

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has agreed to increase the number of monitors in the Republic of Georgia to as many as 100. The moves comes in order to monitor the ceasefire and planned withdrawal of Russian troops.

“International monitoring of the agreed ceasefire and of the humanitarian situation is urgently needed. The OSCE has extensive experience on the ground in the region and is well-placed to respond swiftly. Some of the details must still be worked out, but the agreed increase in the number of monitors will enable the OSCE to help stabilize the situation and support international relief efforts,” said Aleksi Harkonen, the head of Finland’s OSCE Chairmanship task force, in Vienna today.

The decision agreed by the OSCE Permanent Council calls for 20 unarmed military monitoring officers to be deployed immediately to “areas adjacent to South Ossetia”, with the specifics for the remaining monitors to be discussed further.

The Chairman-in-Office has expressed grave concern about the safety and welfare of civilians, and will continue to follow the situation carefully.

The OSCE Mission to Georgia has some 200 staff, including eight unarmed military monitoring officers. The OSCE Mission has been present on the ground since 1992, with a field office in Tskhinvali since 1997. The additional monitors will be recruited from the 56 OSCE participating States.

Photo: OSCE military monitors, Gori road, Republic of Georgia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2008