Georgia to host large-scale OSCE event in 2016

The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) will hold its annual parliamentary assembly in Georgia's Black Sea city Batumi in 2016.

This decision was a result of negotiations of a Georgian parliamentary delegation, led by head of the Euro-Integration Committee Viktor Dolidze, said Georgian Parliament today.

It stressed "such a large-scale meeting was unprecedented” for the country.

OSCE was the world's largest security-oriented inter-governmental organisation. Its mandate included issues such as arms control and the promotion of human rights, freedom of the press and fair elections. It had 550 staff at its headquarters in Vienna, Austria, and 2,300 field staff.