Brussels, 23/08/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Friday, the European Union expressed deep concern about recent violence in South Ossetia (a province of Georgia) despite the signing of a ceasefire on 13 August between the troops of Georgian President Mikhail Saakachvili and Ossetian separatists. In a statement on behalf of the EU, the Dutch Presidency strongly urged 'all parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint and to fully respect the terms of the ceasefire. The EU considers stabilisation of the situation on the ground the first priority… A stable ceasefire could form the basis for deepening negotiations, which should take the form of a political settlement. The EU considers the demilitarisation of the zone of the conflict, with the exception of the Joint Peace Keeping Force, an important precondition for the de-escalation of the current crisis… The EU supports the OSCE in fully carrying out effective and verifiable monitoring of the situation on the ground and welcomes the intention of the OSCE CiO to travel to the region (Bulgarian foreign minister Solomon Passy, Ed.) and urges him to do so at his earliest convenience… The EU notes with interest proposals both on short-term stabilisation of the situation and on an international conference on South Ossetia to be convened by the CiO of the OSCE.' Recalling the statement made by EU High Representative for CFSP, Javier Solana, calling for calm after the announcement of the ceasefire to enable negotiations over a political settlement to take place, the EU recalled 'that any lasting solution of the conflict can only be based on respect for the rule of law and human rights and on respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia, including its right to control its own border. The EU reaffirms its readiness to continue to assist Georgia in the development of democratic institutions, including through its rule of law mission EUJUST-THEMIS' (see Europe of 29 July, Ed.) and 'political dialogue with the Russian Federation' by the EU's Special Representative for the Southern Caucasus, Heikki Talvitie.