Expressing Concern over Developments in South Ossetia, Secretary-General Urges Parties to Use Established Mechanisms to Diffuse Tensions

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General takes note of the recent events at the line of control of South Ossetia.  He expresses his concerns regarding activities that may negatively impact the freedom of movement and livelihood of the local population.  He calls on all parties to refrain from any steps that could be seen as provocative and detrimental to ongoing efforts to promote regional peace and stability.

The Secretary-General urges all parties to use established mechanisms such as the Geneva international discussions and the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism to address issues of concern and to diffuse tensions.