OREANDA-NEWS. August 11, 2008. Mr Medvedev explained in detail to Mrs Halonen, head of state of the country that currently holds the presidency of the OSCE, the information he has on the situation in the South Ossetia and Russia’s assessment of the tragic crisis that has unfolded in the region following the barbaric and aggressive military operations initiated by the Georgian leadership against civilians and Russian peacekeepers. Mr Medvedev gave concrete information on the thousands of victims and refugees, the majority of whom are Russian citizens. He also informed the Finnish President about his contacts with other countries, including with France, which currently holds the European Union presidency. Mr Medvedev said he in favour of having OSCE representatives and an OSCE mission go to South Ossetia itself, where the Georgian aggression has created a humanitarian disaster.

Mrs Halonen said that she is deeply shocked by the large numbers of victims among South Ossetia’s civilian population, agreed on the need for an OSCE presence in the humanitarian disaster area and expressed her hopes for a speedy end to the military operations.