Greece, the new chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), on Thursday called for flexibility to solve the dispute over prolonging the OSCE mission in Georgia. The mission's previous mandate, which included 28 military observers, ran out at the end of 2008.

Russia blocked a new decision by insisting on a separate mandate for the South Ossetia region, which it has recognized as an independent state.

"The OSCE has a long tradition of imaginative and flexible solutions, but these can only work if there is good will and political courage on all sides," Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said in Vienna, where she was addressing a meeting of the organization's 56 member states.

Although the mission is technically closed, its work is continuing, OSCE spokesman Martin Nesirky said.

"The military monitoring officers continue to patrol," he said.

"They can't stay there forever without a mandate, but as long as there is a glimmer of hope, my guess is they will not take any irrevocable actions," a Western diplomat said about the mission's strategy.

Besides the monitors who are observing the military situation following the fighting between Russia and Georgia in August, there are some 200 civilian staff in Tbilisi involved in institution- building and democratization.

Greece took over the OSCE chairmanship from Finland on January 1.

URL: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/250695,osce-chair-greece-calls-for-flexible-solution-for-georgia-mission.html#