We would like to thank Ambassador Lacombe for his update on the situation in South Ossetia and on the broader work of the OSCE Mission. I would also like to thank Ambassador Bota for his detailed report. We truly appreciate the many hats that he has worn and the years that he has been dedicating to work for peace in this region. We are equally pleased that some of that burden will soon be lessened a bit. We are glad, however, that you will not be moving too far from us, so that we will continue to have the opportunity to draw—heavily I suspect—from your expertise on the region.

I was only recently appointed the new U.S. Special Negotiator for Conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, but I would like to note that I have been dealing with this region for a long time. Indeed, I helped establish the United States Embassy in Georgia in 1992. I raise this point only to assure the Georgian Delegation that Georgia has not been forgotten; that Georgia does not need the bright lights of the international press or constant media attention to have the attention of the international community. It has that attention. It has it with the United Nations, with this Organization and others. I believe we have not forgotten Georgia. We have heard sentiments expressed around this table today, which made very clear the importance all of the Member States of the OSCE attach to advancing solutions to these conflicts in Georgia.

Having said that, I will also say that the United States shares the frustrations many have raised, that we have not seen greater accomplishment in putting these conflicts to rest. We also share the concerns regarding internally displaced persons and refugees—not only in Georgia, but throughout the Caucasus region. This is a prime concern for all of us. It is a concern that keeps us pushing repeatedly for success and progress in all of the talks that have been mentioned already today.

We have been encouraged by some recent progress we have seen in that region; and by statements we have heard today; both by mediators and parties. We want to do whatever possible can be done to help the parties find a solution to the problems that face them.

I would add that the United States believes that there has been a useful division of authority between the United Nations and the OSCE in addressing the conflicts that exist in the Caucasus and the other New Independent States. There is much work to be done. This division has proven useful and we have seen that time and again.

We welcome the support the OSCE has given the Geneva Process and the work it has done in the region to further human rights, but we also believe the United Nations can play an effective role here. We strongly believe that the Friends of the UN Secretary General can play an important role in helping find a solution to the situation between Georgia and Abkhazia.

Mr. Chairman, I was pleased you mentioned the Caucasus Cooperation Forum. We would like to encourage not only Georgia, but other countries of the South Caucasus to pursue this process. We believe that further ties between the countries, concrete cooperation, will help build stability and prosperity—and that greater stability and prosperity are essential to see the further growth and strengthening of democratic institutions in the region.

Finally, Mr. Chairman, I would like to note that an adapted CFE Treaty will help ensure stability and predictability in the region. In particular, we see the system of limitations and the notification regime of the adapted Treaty as underlining the sovereign right of countries in the region to make decisions on whether and how they will accept a foreign military presence.