Chairman-in-Office of OSCE condemns Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone violence

Press release 275/2008
2 August, 2008

The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, condemned the latest escalation of violation including overnight shooting in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict.

"We still do not know all the details of what happened, but clearly a number of people have been killed and wounded. I deplore and condemn this needless violence, especially towards the civilial targets, " Stubb said. "The international community as a whole is watching developments with mounting concern and expects the sides to make their outmost to de-escalate tension."

The Chairman-in-Office reiterated his invitation for dialogue and consultations.

Additional information: Päivi Peltokoski, Counsellor, Finnish OSCE Chairmanship Task Force, tel. +358 40 578 6096