Parliament official, OSCE country representatives discuss Russian occupation of Georgian regions

The current situation in Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) was discussed on Thursday in a meeting between Nikoloz Samkharadze, the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Georgian Parliament, and permanent representatives of nine countries in the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

The Parliament said Samkharadze briefed the meeting, featuring representatives from Canada, Estonia, Ireland, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Slovakia and the United States Deputy Permanent Representative, about the “difficult situation in occupied regions and threats coming from Russia”.

The body said the officials also discussed this year’s agenda of the OSCE and reviewed security matters and challenges in the wider region and the world, highlighting the “important role” of Georgia in the conflict resolution process between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

This year's parliamentary elections in Georgia, set for October 26, were also discussed, with the sides emphasising the “significant role” of the OSCE as a “neutral and objective observer”.

Samkharadze featured in the winter meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly between Thursday and Friday in Vienna.