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”.
Russia has had its voting right confirmed in PACE despite Georgia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia challenging it earlier this week, once again protesting Russia’s regaining the right seven months ago which it lost for annexation of Crimea back in 2014.
Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE) Marija Pejcinovic Buric said at a news briefing with Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili in Strasbourg earlier today that Georgia’s presidency of the CoE Committee of Ministers “is progressing well”. "I welcome all the works done by Georgia to promote and strengthen our values and standards and to raise awareness of the Council of Europe in the country but also in the South Caucasus area as a whole”, she stated.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has stated at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe that the next stage for Georgia is to become a full member of the international community by having a voice in global issues. She stated earlier today in Strasbourg that “Georgia has succeeded to turn itself from a post-soviet state, into an emerging, ever stronger and vibrant democracy.” She stated earlier today in Strasbourg that “Georgia has succeeded to turn itself from a post-soviet state, into an emerging, ever stronger and vibrant democracy.”
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani, who is visiting Vienna as the Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, met with OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger earlier today. Greminger said after the meeting that there is a close partnership between the OSCE and the CoE in a number of defined areas.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalklaiani will visit the United States next week. The Foreign Ministry announced today that FM Zalkaliani will travel to Washington D.C. on February 4-7 to participate in the annual Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom.
New United States Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan met with Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia yesterday after officially assuming her duties as ambassador. "We covered number of topics, including security cooperation, our economic cooperation and opportunities to increase our economic ties”, Degnan said.
OSCE PA President Gigi Tsereteli spoke about the illegal occupation of the Russia-occupied Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) at the United States Helsinki Commission in Washington DC. He called on the US, the EU and other partners to include Georgian occupation in their further sanctions against Russia.