OSCE Group of Friends released a statement in support of Georgia

OSCE Group of Friends of Georgia, uniting Canada, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, has released a statement supporting Georgia’s territorial integrity and democratic development at today’s OSCE Ministerial Council.

We reaffirm our full support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. We express our full support to the strong determination of Georgia, in its aspirations of European and Euro-Atlantic integration and commend the commitment shown by the Georgian authorities in this regard”, the declaration says.

.@AlanDuncanMP in Vienna for the #OSCEMC17. As a member of the #OSCE Group of #FriendsOfGeorgia, the UK remains committed to #Georgia's sovereingty & territorial integrity. We call on #Russia to enable access by international #HumanRights monitoring mechanisms. @UKinGeorgiapic.twitter.com/zkZjYoYAvy

— UK Delegation OSCE (@UKOSCE) 7 декабря 2017 г.

Urging the Russian Federation to reverse its recognition of Georgia’s occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) as independent states, the group called upon Russia to withdraw its military forces.

We condemn the gross violations of rights related to freedom of movement, residence, property, as well as right to education in one’s native language and underline that the so called borderization through placement of artificial obstacles and fortifying the occupation line with barbed and razor wire fences further aggravates the humanitarian situation on the ground”, the group of friends said.

Supporting the fundamental right of IDPs and refugees to return to the places of their origin in safety and dignity, the countries further called upon the Russian Federation to enable access by international human rights monitoring mechanisms to the occupied territories of Georgia.

Friends of #Georgia in #OSCEMC17: reaffirmed #Lithuania‘s steadfast support to Georgia‘s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of #Russia‘s creeping occupation. #OSCE role in stopping it - key. pic.twitter.com/YPh9RcgJ67

— Linas Linkevicius (@LinkeviciusL) 7 декабря 2017 г.

Welcoming the progress made by Georgia in further consolidating its democracy, improving transparency of its institutions, upholding human rights and fostering economic development, thereby setting a very positive example, the friends said they will continue to raise awareness of the conflict in Georgia and need for its peaceful resolution.