TBILISI, DFWatch – OSCE is to keep an eye on a massive Russian military exercise in the Caucasus planned for September.

Eamon Gilmour, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, said this during a visit to Georgia.

After a meeting with Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze, Gilmour said that any kind of military maneuver is subject of concern. He also says that cooperation among countries is the basis of good relations, especially for neighbors.

Gilmour says the OSCE will keep an eye on the exercises and review it with appropriate parties.

Russia from time to time holds large scale military exercises in the North Caucasus, but this year’s exercise is larger than before and will take place inside Georgia’s breakaway regions.

This is a subject of concern to Georgia, also in light of the fact that there will be parliamentary elections this fall.

At the press conference, Gilmour spoke about reestablishing an OSCE field mission to Georgia. OSCE had to pack up and leave in 2008 following a Russian veto to extending the mission.

Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister said he will do everything he can to bring back the mission, and to dispel the consternations of those countries that are blocking such a decision.

He expressed hope for removing the blockage against a renewed OSCE mission, which will let OSCE get more involved in the regular talks in Geneva between the warring parties and in other aspects of handling the conflict.