News

On 16 October, experts of Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Lithuanian Embassy to Georgia, responsible for the implementation and monitoring of development cooperation projects, were not allowed to enter Tskhinvali. In this territory the water supply system is being restored out of the funds that are designated by Lithuania and other OSCE countries. Lithuania has allocated 100000 euros for the project.

 The OSCE mission to Georgia, which organised the visit of experts, was given merely political motives. 

Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regrets that residents of Tskhinvali will suffer from such a decision, as the water supply infrastructure in Tskhinvali is time-worn and they often lack water.

This decision violates the rights of Lithuania - an international donor - to control and monitor projects that are being implemented out of Lithuania’s funds. Therefore, in the future Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not discount the possibility of not funding projects that are being artificially impeded in the settlements in South Ossetia, which currently cannot be fully controlled by Georgian authorities.

As an international donor, Lithuania is ready to work in South Ossetia with those receivers of assistance, who would be ready to cooperate and would not make artificial impediments. Consequently, Lithuania is considering the possibility to allocate financial aid funds only to those OSCE projects, which are being implemented throughout the territory controlled by the Provisional Administration of South Ossetia and recognized by Georgia.