Sweden plans to contribute SEK 10 million for projects in the agricultural sector in South Ossetia. This promise of a contribution was given in connection with a donor conference on South Ossetia in Brussels on 14 June, convened by Chairman -- in -- Office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Belgian foreign minister Karel de Gucht.
The aim of the conference was to obtain financing for projects in agriculture, energy and infrastructure and for the development of small enterprises in South Ossetia. It is hoped that support to economic reconstruction in the conflict zone and its surrounding areas will result in confidence -- building measures and inject new energy into the peace process in South Ossetia.
"I welcome this initiative by the OSCE and am particularly pleased that the parties to the conflict were able to agree on the confidence -- building measures that were proposed. I hope that the Swedish contribution will help these development initiatives in South Ossetia to contribute to greater security for the population in the region and to reduce the tensions," says Minister for International Development Cooperation Carin Jämtin.
A factor of particular importance is that through this conference, the OSCE is drawing a link between the mutual relationship between security and development.