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U.S. Urges Georgians, South Ossetians To Embrace Dialogue

31 October 2005

State Dept. affirms support for South Ossetian autonomy within a unified Georgia

The United States urges rejection of the use of force and embrace of constructive dialogue as the only path to a just and lasting settlement of the conflict over Georgia’s breakaway region of South Ossetia.

Welcoming the October 27 presentation of a peace plan by Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the United States “supports Georgia's territorial integrity and stands ready to work with the Georgians and South Ossetians, and with Russia … to support efforts to build confidence, foster economic development, and advance peace and prosperity in pursuit of a settlement that ensures the South Ossetians autonomy within a unified Georgia.”

Noghaideli presented the peace plan at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna, Austria. (See related article.)

An autonomous political subdivision of Georgia in the Soviet Union, South Ossetia declared independence from the Soviet Union in September 1990, with open warfare beginning in January 1991 and continuing until June 1992. Georgia, having declared independence in April 1991, signed a cease-fire agreement with Russian and South Ossetian representatives. (See related fact sheet.)

The United States welcomed Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili’s proposal in January for an autonomous status within Georgia for South Ossetia, which borders on the Russian Republic of North Ossetia-Alania.

Following is the text of McCormack’s October 28 statement:

(begin text)

U.S. Department of State
Office of the Spokesman
October 28, 2005

Statement by Sean McCormack, Spokesman

PLAN FOR A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT IN THE SOUTH OSSETIA CONFLICT

The United States welcomes the presentation by Georgian Prime Minister Noghaideli, at the OSCE [Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe] in Vienna on October 27, of a diplomatic action plan aimed at invigorating negotiations for a peaceful settlement to the South Ossetia conflict.  The United States calls on the Georgians and South Ossetians to reject the use of force and embrace constructive dialogue as the only path to a just and lasting settlement.  The United States supports Georgia's territorial integrity and stands ready to work with the Georgians and South Ossetians, and with Russia and all fellow OSCE member states, to support efforts to build confidence, foster economic development, and advance peace and prosperity in pursuit of a settlement that ensures the South Ossetians autonomy within a unified Georgia.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)