SECRETARY-GENERAL COMMENDS PEACEFUL RESOLUTION BETWEEN GEORGIA, RUSSIAN FEDERATION

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General is pleased that Georgia and the Russian Federation have been able to resolve the issue of the recent arrest of Russian officers in Georgia in a peaceful and constructive manner.  He appreciates the efforts undertaken by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Chairman-in-Office, Karel de Gucht, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belgium, to help bring about this result.

The Secretary-General expresses the hope that all parties concerned will refrain from statements or actions that could affect stability in the region, and encourages them to engage constructively to address existing problems.

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For information media • not an official record