The foreign ministers of Austria, Romania and Lithuania, Alexander Schallenberg, Bogdan Aurescu and Gabrielius Landsbergis, are paying a visit to Georgia today.
The three foreign ministers are visiting Georgia as part of their regional tour to the South Caucasus, which includes visits to Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia in coordination with High Representative Josep Borrell and the European External Action Service.
Austrian Foreign Ministry has tweeted:
FM #Schallenberg: „Great seeing our friend Vice PM and FM @DZalkaliani in #Tbilisi. We are committed to our close ????????-????????partnership. #Georgia‘s success is also a success for the #EU. pic.twitter.com/oBCBmdm4ZJ
— MFA Austria (@MFA_Austria) June 26, 2021
Meeting with the foreign dignitaries, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said this visit is a strong signal that the European Union supports peace and security in the region which has unresolved conflicts.
Georgian Prime Minister has tweeted:
Welcomed the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of ????????,????????&???????? visiting ???????? & the South Caucasus on behalf of @JosepBorrellF. We discussed the need for ????????'s active engagement to ensure peace & security in EaP region & the importance of keeping the ????????-???????? conflict at the top of #EU's agenda. pic.twitter.com/3GmD3fLv5i
— Irakli Garibashvili (@GharibashviliGe) June 26, 2021
On their part, the foreign dignitaries have thanked Georgian PM for his mediation in the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Austrian Foreign Ministry has also tweeted:
FM @GLandsbergis: Conveyed to @GharibashviliGe and @DZalkaliani a message of #EU's ???????? support to #Georgia ???????? from HRVP @JosepBorrellF. We also discussed regional challenges, internal developments and #EaP Summit. Implementation of reforms is key to Georgia‘s #European future. pic.twitter.com/qmXNNdBH4X
— Lithuania MFA (@LithuaniaMFA) June 26, 2021
During their visit in Georgia, the foriegn ministers of Austria, Romania and Lithuania travelled to the occupation line near the Georgian region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) together with the European Union Monitoring Misison (EUMM).
In Odzisi, @EUMMGeorgia_HoM and EUMM monitors brief the Foreign Ministers on the latest security developments on the ground, and on their concrete impact on local populations' life and human rights, including in terms of their lack of access to education, healthcare and lands. pic.twitter.com/p1KanhiYVM
— EUMM Georgia (@EUMMGeorgia) June 26, 2021
The overall objective of the European foriegn ministers is to strengthen the EU's geopolitical profile in its own neighbourhood, to increase the EU's involvement and role in settling protracted conflicts in the region.
It also aims to streamline and increase the cohesion of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and to ensure a more active and direct involvement of the Member States and of the European institutions, including through joint actions.
Press statements of FM???????? @BogdanAurescu, FM???????? A. #Schallenberg @MFA_Austria & FM???????? @GLandsbergis at t/end of #SouthCaucasusTour, sharing conclusions of t/visits to ????????????????????????.
— MFA Romania (@MAERomania) June 26, 2021
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