PACE stands for open access to area of 2008 conflict

PACE Rapporteur on the humanitarian consequences of the 'war between Georgia and Russia in 2008', Swedish MP Tina Aketoft is advocating for free access to the conflict zone, RIA Novosti reported.

While presenting her report to European parliamentarians, Aketoft noted that during the two years of preparation of the document, she faced 'the problem of access to the territories' of the conflict.

The speaker acknowledged that while preparing her paper, she could not visit South Ossetia. "I could not go there," she said, adding that "access was blocked."

"This was more important to politicians, rather than giving me the opportunity to visit the region," she said, without naming who precisely refused the request of giving her the opportunity to visit South Ossetia.

Describing the situation as a whole, Aketoft indicated that "the situation in the region is better than immediately after the conflict, but the problems in the humanitarian sphere remain unchanged, especially concerning the refugee issue."

On Wednesday, PACE discussed her report on the humanitarian implications of the 'war between Georgia and Russia in 2008'. Following the report, MEPs began a debate. They will then vote on the points of the final resolution.

Large scale military action was launched in South Ossetia in Georgia on August 8 2008. Later Russian troops occupied Tskhinvali and expelled the Georgian military. Russia recognised the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia late in August. Tbilisi ended diplomatic relations with Moscow in response and has announced the two unrecognised republics to be occupied territories.


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