US Ambassador to OSCE: Georgia’s CoE Presidency demonstrates its contributions to int’l community
US Ambassador to OSCE James Gilmore thanked Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani for addressing the OSCE Permanent Council during Georgia's CoE presidency. Photo: US Mission to the OSCE
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United States Ambassador to the OSCE James Gilmore said in his address to the OSCE Permanent Council earlier today that “Georgia’s leadership of the important European organisation” demonstrates its contributions to the international community.
Foreign Minister [David] Zalkaliani, the United States warmly welcomes you to the Permanent Council as the representative of Georgia’s Presidency of the Council of Europe”, he said in Vienna.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani (third from the right) addressed the OSCE Permanent Council earlier today as well. Photo: David Zalkaliani/Facebook
Ambassador Gilmore said that “despite significant external threats to its security”, Georgia has transitioned from being a “security consumer” to a “security defender.”
We are grateful for Georgia’s steadfast partnership in Afghanistan. Georgian troops served alongside the servicemen and women from 41 other countries in the International Security Assistance Force in Iraq, where Georgia was the largest non-NATO and per capita contributor and served in some of the most dangerous regions”, Ambassador Gilmore said.
Today, Georgia is a staunch contributor to the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission. We appreciate Georgia’s sacrifices and efforts to the security of Afghanistan”, he added.
Gilmore further noted that as a “security defender” Georgia is now presiding over the CoE, “working to safeguard a rules-based international order predicated on respect for state sovereignty, rule of law and human rights”.
.@usosce @gov_gilmore welcomes ???????? FM @DZalkaliani to @OSCE PC. ???????? leadership of @coe demonstrates its contributions to the int’l community predicated on a respect for state sovereignty, rule of law, & #humanrights. The #OSCE shares these objectives. https://t.co/wlx8KYqIuy
— U.S. Mission to OSCE (@usosce) January 30, 2020
He then underscored that “states contravening their OSCE commitments and violating their treaty obligations must be held accountable”.
Regrettably, through aggressive behavior toward other states and repressive actions against its own people, Russia continues to undermine international security”, the US Ambassador said, calling on Russia to fulfill its obligations under the August 12, 2008 six-point ceasefire agreement with Georgia.
In his remarks Ambassador Gilmore reiterated that the US supports Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations and "remains a strong advocate for Georgia’s contributions to the international community and rules-based order”.
Thanking FM Zalkaliani for his appearance at the Permanent Council, he said they value cooperation between the OSCE and the CoE - past, present, and future”.