Rejecting the “Independence Referendum” and Elections in Georgia’s South Ossetia Region

The United States supports Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. As the international community has made clear, South Ossetia is a part of Georgia. We call on Tskhinvali and Tbilisi to engage in direct talks to find a peaceful solution that defines the status of South Ossetia within Georgia’s internationally recognized borders, while affording South Ossetia significant autonomy within a unified Georgia. Implementing the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s economic rehabilitation programs can ease current tensions, build confidence, and lay the foundation for such talks.