Georgian FM speaks about severe violations by Russia in Georgia at OSCE Ministerial Council session
Georgian Foreign Minister spoke about harsh human rights violations in Georgian occupied regions. Photo: Foreign Ministry press office.
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Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani raised the issue of occupation of Georgian territories by Russia in his speech at the 25th session of the OSCE Ministerial Council yesterday, the principal decision-making body of OSCE.
Installation of artificial barriers and barbed wire fences further aggravated the humanitarian conditions of conflict affected population. We are deeply concerned over the systematic violation of the fundamental human rights including the ethnic discrimination against Georgians in both occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
#Georgia has all along been committed to the peaceful resolution of the conflict. #GEO???????? Government’s new peace initiative “A Step to a Better Future” clearly reconfirms our dedication to reconciliation and confidence building policy #OSCEMC18 pic.twitter.com/bZk2I1HbE1
— David Zalkaliani (@DZalkaliani) December 6, 2018
Moreover, hundreds of thousands of IDPs and refugees, victims of continued ethnic cleansing remain to be deprived of the right to return to their homes in safety and dignity. The tragic case of Georgian IDP, Archil Tatunashvili who was illegally detained, tortured and killed by the occupation power in the Tskhinvali region last march as well as brutal murder of Georgian IDPs Giga Otkhozoria and David Basharuli are a clear reminder of an alarming humanitarian situation in both Georgian regions where no international monitoring mechanisms are allowed,” Zalkaliani said.
Zalkaliani stated that the Government of Georgia has further intensified its efforts towards engagement and reconciliation between the communities divided by war and occupation lines.
The new peace initiative of the Georgian government “A step to a future better” has been designed to improve the humanitarian and social-economic conditions of people residing in both occupied regions. The initiative clearly reconfirms our dedication to reconciliation and confidence building policy,” Zalkaliani told the audience.
Members of the group of Georgia’s friends in OSCE have reaffirmed their support to Georgian sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Bulgaria, Canada, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Ukraine, Norway, the US and the Great Britain are the members of the group.
Georgia's friends in OSCE. Photo: Foreign Ministry press office.
On the sidelines of the OSCE event Zalkaliani met with foreign ministers of Bosnia Herzegovina, Albania, Netherlands, so-chairs of Geneva International Discussions on Georgian conflict issues and the head of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Ingibjorg Gisladottir. .
Head of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Ingibjorg Gisladottir spoke about Georgian elections with Georgian FM. Photo: Foreign Ministry press office.
The meetings have been dedicated to Georgian conflict issues, bilateral relations and recent presidential elections in Georgia.
Gisladottir stated that the elections were conducted in a free and a competitive environment, the Georgian Foreign Ministry reported.
Zalkaliani vowed that the Georgian government and parliament will take all necessary steps to fulfill the international recommendations provided regarding the elections.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Co-Operation and Security in Europe (OSCE PA) has passed a resolution titled "10 years after the August War”, initiated by Georgian lawmaker Sophio Katsarava with an overwhelming majority "despite Russia’s resistance at all stages,” the parliament of Georgia reports.
Georgian parliamentary delegation is taking part in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) annual session in the Belarusian capital of Minsk.
The OSCE PA approved an important document prepared by Georgia about the conflicts in the country, stating Russia continued to violate international laws and violate the rights of Georgian citizens living in and near the occupied regions.
The president of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili told 25 OSCE ambassadors visiting Tbilisi that the country’s occupied territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) should not be excluded from international monitoring.
“The Government of Georgia will provide 211 IDP families with accommodations for free,” Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has declared at a briefing today.
The US has announced plans to withdraw from the 35-nation Open Skies Treaty, which allows for unarmed surveillance flights over member states, saying that Russia has refused to adhere to the treaty which entered into force back in 2002.