ON THE DETENTION OF A TRUCK CONVOY WITH RUSSIAN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS MINISTRY HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE IN SOUTH OSSETIA

Unofficial translation from Russian

PRESS RELEASE

According to reports coming in from South Ossetia, in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict the Georgian side today detained a truck convoy with Russian Emergency Situations Ministry humanitarian assistance, intended for the region's population. The officials of Georgia are saying the cargo will only be let through after passing customs procedures in accordance with Georgian law.

By its actions the Georgian side not only aggravates the already disastrous situation with the supply of essential goods to the inhabitants of South Ossetia. We're witnessing a new gross violation of the existing accords, this time - a breach of the basic Agreement on the Principles for the Settlement of the Georgian-Ossetian Conflict, signed by the leaders of Russia and Georgia in Sochi on June 24, 1992. Article 4 of this document, in particular, reads: "The sides consider inadmissible the application of economic sanctions and a blockade, and any other obstacles on the free road of movement of goods, services and people and undertake to provide conditions for the rendering of humanitarian assistance to the population."

Of the start of supplies of humanitarian assistance to the population of South Ossetia the Georgian side was informed by a note of the Embassy of Russia in Georgia on July 9, 2004.

In view of the foregoing, the Russian side declares to Georgia a protest regarding the detention of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry's convoy with humanitarian cargo and demands of the Georgian authorities that they immediately let the convoy through to move on along the earlier planned route.