Combined Control Commission negotiates withdrawal of Georgian forces from South Osetian border

An extraordinary meeting of the Combined Control Commission to settle the Georgian-Osetian conflict is being held in Tskhinvali today, June 2. The co-chairmen of the Commission, namely Boris Chochiyev for the South Osetian side, Georgy Khaindrava for the Georgian side, Taimuraz Kusov for the North Osetian side and Mikhail Mayorov for the Russian side, are taking part in the meeting. Head of the OSCE Mission in Georgia Roy Reeve is also present at the meeting, as well as commanders of peacekeeping battalions. They are working to agree on the final statement by the sides on the adjustment of the difficult situation that has arisen on the Osetian-Georgian border after the Georgian side brought in its interior units there on May 31.

Commander of the peacekeeping forces Major-General Mr Nabzdorov stated that on May 20, he received a notification not a request from governor of the Shida Kartli region Mikhail Kareli that police posts would be organized in the settlements of Nikozi, Tkviavi, Ditsi and others. Mr Nabzdorov offered Mr Kareli to wait till June 2 and solve the question at the meeting of the Combined Control Commission but met with a refusal.

Co-chairman of the Commission for the South Osetian side Boris Chochiyev expressed dissatisfaction with the thoughtless actions and statements by Mikhail Kareli, which make it possible that difficult situations will arise in the future again.

Boris Chochiyev offered to prepare a statement to sum up the meeting and to point out in it that the Georgian armed units brought in the conflict zone on May 31 will be withdrawn and the police posts will be removed. The Georgian side promises that the rotation of the Georgian peacekeeping battalion will be conducted within two weeks and all units not related to the peacekeeping forces will be withdrawn. The sides will hold a press conference after the meeting.