He added that all the parties involved now have a responsibility to show restraint, and that reports that Russian forces are advancing steadily on Gori and other towns far into Georgian territory give cause for serious disquiet.
- The world community must demand that the parties uphold the ceasefire agreement that was agreed two days ago after mediation by the EU and the OSCE. Constant breaches of the ceasefire are exacerbating the humanitarian situation and making the further political process more difficult, Mr. Støre continued.
Later Friday Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said he had signed a new ceasefire agreement that requires the immediate withdrawal of all Russian forces from Georgian soil.
Norway supports OSCE with observers to Georgia
Norway today supported the proposal from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) that “up to” 100 additional OSCE monitors are needed in Georgia.
- Today we have offered 10-12 military observers to The OSCE Mission to Georgia for a minimum period of six months, said Minister of Defence, Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen.
The OSCE Mission to Georgia has some 200 staff, including eight unarmed military monitoring officers. A decision to increase the number of monitors would require approval from all 56 participating States.