OSCE, Georgian officials address tensions

HELSINKI, Finland, May 30 (UPI) -- Top officials from Georgia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe met Friday to discuss the escalating tension in the country.

Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, OSCE chairman-in-office, and Ekaterine Tkeshelashvili, Georgian foreign minister, met in Helsinki to discuss the growing conflict with Russia over Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia region, OSCE reported.

Officials say Stubb and Tkeshelashvili discussed ways to open a dialogue between Russia and Georgia and relax the increased hostilities.

A recent report from the United Nations said Russia was to blame for an incident on April 20 when a Georgian unmanned aerial reconnaissance drone was shot down over Abkhazia. Additionally, Georgian officials have grown concerned about the increased Russian troop presence in the region.

Stubb called for confidence-building measures between the two countries to avoid further confrontation.

"The OSCE confidence-building measures should be used by participating states to calm tensions and foster dialogue," Stubb said in a statement.

"Guided by the prescribed procedures, the Finnish chairmanship will do its best to assist in consultations between Georgia and the Russian Federation."