Russia seeks separate team for South Ossetia

Vienna: Russia has demanded that the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) divide its operations in Georgia to reflect the "independence" of separatist South Ossetia if it wants to extend its monitoring mission beyond December 31, diplomats said on Friday.

The United States and European allies in the 56-nation OSCE have not recognised South Ossetian independence.

Moscow did so after Russian forces foiled a Georgian attempt to wrest back control of the breakaway region last August.

Positions

"Russia doesn't want the OSCE's Georgia mission to have any say or responsibility over activities in South Ossetia to underline that 'facts on the ground' have changed," said an OSCE diplomat who requested anonymity due to political sensitivities.

"The Russians know like most others in the OSCE that its position will not fly, but they are determined to pull the plug on any mandate for South Ossetia" cast within a Georgian umbrella, he said.

Russia has prevented OSCE observers from returning to South Ossetia, despite pledging under a ceasefire to let them back in. It says South Ossetian authorities should decide - a firewall since most countries do not recognise them.

Finland, current chairman of the Vienna-based OSCE, this week circulated a proposal for a one-year renewal of its Georgia mandate that made clear the country was regarded as one whole.

The confidential draft, obtained by Reuters, said the mission would be run by a special OSCE envoy who would be able to cross military lines at will and seek full implementation of ceasefire terms, promote reconciliation and return of refugees.

But a Russian-amended version deleted passages referring to the envoy and "the OSCE mission to Georgia" and added passages to suggest Georgia no longer had sovereignty over South Ossetia.

Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze ruled out a separate OSCE mandate for rebel South Ossetia.