OSCE Group of Friends of Georgia reaffirms support for country's territorial integrity
The statement was assessed by Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani as ‘very important’. Photo: MFA
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The OSCE Group of Friends of Georgia has reaffirmed its ‘unwavering support’ to Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty at the 25th Ministerial Council meeting in Milan, Italy.
The statement was supported by Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Ukraine, UK and the US and was delivered by the Foreign Minister of Canada, Chrystia Freeland.
“We believe that a peaceful resolution of Russia-Georgia conflict would have a transformative effect not only on Georgia but on the region as a whole. We express our deep concern over the increase of Russia’s military exercises and its further military buildup in Georgia’s Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions. Continuous violations of the EU mediated 12 August, 2008 ceasefire agreement by Russia destabilizes situation and harms those principles and norms upon which our security depends,” Freeland stated.
The statement was assessed by Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani as ‘very important’ since it is related to the situation in the occupied territories of Georgia.
“The OSCE documents will mention the Otkhozoria-Tatunashvili list first time ever and also emphasise that this terrible murder is unacceptable. Adequate measures need to be carried out by the OSCE and member countries against those people who committed such crime,” Zalkaliani said.
While attending the OSCE ministerial council meeting Zalkaliani has also met with the Secretary General of the organisation, Thomas Greminger.
“The two parties have once again expressed their support to the Geneva international discussions format and emphasised the importance of the OSCE’s involvement in it. They have also touched the complicated humanitarian and security situation in the occupied territories of Georgia emphasising the need of allowance of the OSCE observing mechanisms there,” MFA said in a statement today.
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.
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 Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which is the principal decision making body of the organization, has hosted discussions on the occupation of Georgian territories yesterday.
Austrian Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairman Sebastian Kurz has congratulated the Georgian people on yesterday’s historic vote to allow for visa-free travel to the Schengen Area.
The OSCE leadership has expressed readiness to provide further support for Georgian democratic reforms and to help the country refine its election legislation, the Parliament of Georgia press office says.
With 50 votes in favour and five against, the OSCE PA’s Committee on Political Affairs and Security adopted the resolution initiated by the Georgian lawmaker Sophio Katsarava, despite Russia’s demand to exclude the resolution from the agenda.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation (OSCE PA) in Europe has adopted a resolution proposed by Georgian MP Sophio Katsarava on the security and human rights situation in Georgia’s Russian occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).