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23 February 2000

Text: U.S. Welcomes OSCE Monitoring of Russian-Georgian Border

(Rubin: OSCE effort will bolster stability in Caucasus)  (440)
The United States welcomes steps by the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to establish a continuous monitoring
presence on the Russian-Georgian border with Chechnya, according to
State Department Spokesman James Rubin.
In a statement issued February 23, Rubin said the OSCE effort "will
contribute to transparency on this sensitive border and bolster
stability in the Caucasus region."
He welcomed the participation of Russia and other OSCE member states
in the monitoring mission. He also said the United States would send
observers shortly and would continue efforts "to enhance the
capability and effectiveness" of Georgian border guard forces.
"Supporting Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity is a
central element of U.S. policy in the Caucasus region," Rubin said,
adding that the United States remains "deeply concerned about the
potential for spillover of violence from the North Caucasus into
Georgia."
Following is the text of his statement:
(begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE 
Office of the Spokesman 
February 23, 2000
STATEMENT BY JAMES P. RUBIN, SPOKESMAN
OSCE MONITORING OF RUSSIAN-GEORGIAN BORDER
The U.S. warmly welcomes the establishment of a continuous OSCE
monitoring presence on the Russian-Georgian border with Chechnya. We
strongly support the OSCE's plan to send an assessment team to the
region to begin planning for an enhanced monitoring presence in the
spring. This OSCE effort will contribute to transparency on this
sensitive border and bolster stability in the Caucasus region. We
welcome the participation of Russia and a number of other member
states in the OSCE monitoring mission, and will be sending American
observers shortly.
The U.S. is continuing efforts to enhance the capability and
effectiveness of Georgia's own border guard forces. Under the auspices
of our longstanding Border Security and Law Enforcement Assistance
Program, funded at $34 million with additional funds to be added this
year, we are expediting delivery of uniforms and boots, generators,
radios, global positioning system instruments and other equipment. We
have provided a helicopter to the Georgian Border Guard for border
patrolling and are working to expedite delivery of two more.
Supporting Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity is a
central element of U.S. policy in the Caucasus region, and we remain
deeply concerned about the potential for spillover of violence from
the North Caucasus into Georgia. We note Acting Russian President
Putin's December 11, 1999, statement that "Russia will never cross the
border of a sovereign state."
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: usinfo.state.gov)