An international presence in South Ossetia is crucial if peace is to be restored in the region, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Knut Vollebaek said on Tuesday.
He said Georgians who fled South Ossetia and became refugees after the 2008 armed conflict would not be able to return to their homes unless international bodies were present in the region.
UN and OSCE missions in Abkhazia and South Ossetia closed their operations in 2009. Russia and the two former Georgian republics object to the presence of international observers on their territory.
Russia recognized the independence of the former Georgian autonomies of Abkhazia and South Ossetia following a five-day war in August 2008. Tbilisi has declared them occupied territories and broken off relations with Moscow.
ASTANA, November 30 (RIA Novosti)
