Independence referendum and presidential elections in breakaway South Ossetia scheduled for November 12 will only serve “to exacerbate tensions and divert attention from the need to peacefully resolve the conflict,” , the U.S. Department of State said in a statement on November 8.

“The United States supports Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. As the international community has made clear, South Ossetia is a part of Georgia. We call on Tskhinvali and Tbilisi to engage in direct talks to find a peaceful solution that defines the status of South Ossetia within Georgia’s internationally recognized borders, while affording South Ossetia significant autonomy within a unified Georgia,” the statement reads.

The U.S. Department of State also said that implementation of OSCE-backed economic rehabilitation programs can ease current tensions, build confidence, and lay the foundation for such talks.