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OSCE and Council of Europe call Russia to adhere to ceasefire agreement signed with Georgia

16 September 2008 13:39 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Lachin Sultanova â€“ APA. Joint declaration made by OSCE and the Council of Europe at the â€œ2+2â€ meeting called Russia to adhere to the six-point ceasefire agreement signed with Georgia, Baku office of the Council of Europe told APA. The declaration says it is fundamental that the Russian troops return to their positions held prior to 7 August.

They expressed their strong support for the six principles for ensuring human rights and providing humanitarian protection and assistance in the war affected areas.
The participants called for in particular the Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities as well as other relevant Council of Europe and OSCE institutions and structures to continue to assess the overall human rights situation in the war affected areas, including South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The participants recalled that as member States of the Council of Europe and participating States of the OSCE, both Russia and Georgia are bound by human rights obligations and commitments which must be respected in all circumstances.

Action against terrorism, elections in Belarus were also discussed during â€œ2+2â€ meeting. The Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Foreign Minister of Finland, Alexander Stubb, the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Foreign Minister of Sweden, Carl Bildt, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Terry Davis, and the Director of the Office of the Secretary General of the OSCE, Paul Fritch attended the meeting.