HELSINKI, 4 October 2008 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, condemned today recent violent incidents in Georgia and called for calm.

"I was deeply saddened to hear about the explosion on Friday in which seven Russian soldiers died in Tskhinvali and an earlier incident in which Georgian police officers died. I express my condolences to the families of those who were killed and wish those who were hurt a speedy recovery," Stubb said. "I condemn this violence and again call for calm. The OSCE continues to seek access to South Ossetia to contribute further to building peace and security in Georgia as a whole."