OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioğlu is visiting Georgia from April 22 to 24, the Georgian Foreign Ministry reported. He has already met with Georgian Dream’s foreign minister, Maka Botchorishvili, GD’s reconciliation minister, Tea Akhvlediani, representatives of the Central Election Commission, GD’s prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, GD-elected President Mikheil Kavelashvili, and GD parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili. He will also visit the Tskhinvali occupation line. No meetings with opposition parties or civil society groups have been announced so far.
This is the first visit by a high-level OSCE representative to Georgia since the 2024 parliamentary elections, which were criticized for a number of shortcomings in the OSCE’s final report. Earlier in January, OSCE PA President Pia Kauma canceled her planned visit to Georgia after President Salome Zurabishvili, opposition parties, and U.S. Representative Joe Wilson warned it could be used by the ruling party to claim legitimacy. Just days before Sinirlioğlu’s arrival, Rep. Wilson similarly urged him to postpone the trip, warning that high-level meetings with Georgian Dream officials could serve to legitimize a disputed government.
Meeting with GD Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili
On April 22, OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioğlu met with the Georgian Dream foreign minister Maka Botchorishvili. Following the meeting, the sides issued joint statements to the press.
Joint Press Briefing
Georgian Dream Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili thanked OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioğlu for his visit to Tbilisi, calling it a sign of the importance of OSCE-Georgia relations.
“Your visit to Georgia is an important message and step,” Botchorishvili said, adding that Georgia remains an OSCE member state for which European security and cooperation are of “utmost importance.”
Botchorishvili stressed that for the OSCE to function effectively and protect Europe’s security, its member states must remain committed to international law and the Organization’s founding principles.
She said their discussion had touched on regional dynamics and the challenges facing Georgia. Referring to the occupation of two Georgian regions, Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, she said that “Russia continues to violate Georgia’s territorial integrity” and stressed the need to keep Georgia on the OSCE agenda and to work for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
She commended the OSCE’s participation in the Geneva International Discussions and underlined the importance of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanisms (IPRMs), stressing the need to resume the Gali IPRM suspended since 2018.
“Georgia wants peace and stability in the region. Therefore, I once again emphasize the steadfastness of the Georgian government’s peace policy,” she said, also welcoming the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan and offering Georgia’s support for regional peace efforts.
The GD minister expressed support for the OSCE’s “independent institutions” and warned, “Any kind of attempts by some actors to use these institutions as political instruments for their narrow political interests against [our] sovereignty is unacceptable.”
“Georgia has become a clear example of open attempts of foreign interference in a country’s internal political life,” she said, adding, “We often witness attempts to abuse international institutions, which contradicts the very principles of the international order.”
She reaffirmed Georgia’s commitment to OSCE principles and international law, citing the 2024 election observation mission as a demonstration of the GD government’s trust in the organization. She said the GD government is ready to cooperate with the OSCE to address its recommendations.
Secretary General Sinirlioğlu, for his part, said the visit has underscored the OSCE’s “strong commitment” to Georgia and the wider region.
“Stability here in Georgia is vital both for its people and for the wider region’s security,” Sinirlioğlu said, expressing support for IPRM mechanisms and the OSCE’s continued role in regional conflict resolution.
“I want to reaffirm our willingness to support Georgia in addressing internal and external challenges, and I want to encourage the Georgian authorities to continue relying on OSCE’s expertise and support. Thank you for your commitment to the OSCE’s principles,” he concluded.
“Glad to welcome OSCE SG Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu on his official visit to Georgia, representing a significant step forward, especially given the complex geopolitical environment. As an OSCE member state, Georgia remains steadfast in advancing security and cooperation in Europe,” Maka Botchorishvili wrote on social media.
“The government of Georgia places particular importance on the independence of OSCE institutions and stands ready to engage in implementing OSCE/ODIHR’s recommendations,” Botchorishvili added in a separate tweet.
Meeting with Central Election Commission Representatives
On April 23, OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioğlu met with representatives of the Georgian Central Election Commission (CEC), its Chair Giorgi Kalandarishvili, and Deputy Chair Giorgi Sharabidze.
CEC chair Giorgi Kalandarishvili has detailed the 2024 parliamentary elections in Georgia, according to the official press release. “The sides also discussed the situation regarding the implementation of the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations and the plans of the election administration in this regard,” the press release reads.
The main topic of discussion was the upcoming local elections in Georgia, scheduled for October 4. “Giorgi Kalandarishvili and Giorgi Sharabidze detailed the preparation of the election administration in legal and technical-logistic directions to ensure the conduct of the elections in a highly professional manner in accordance with international standards,” the press release says.
Many of the opposition parties, which consider the last parliamentary elections rigged, vow not to participate in the local elections.
Meeting with the GD Minister for Reconciliation
OSCE Secretary General Sinirlioğlu also met with the GD Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality, Tea Akhvlediani.
“We discussed in detail the grave human rights and humanitarian situation in the occupied Georgian territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali,” Akhvlediani said after the meeting, stressing the OSCE’s role peaceful resolution of conflicts.
“We also discussed the state policy of reconciliation and engagement, as well as the planned steps within the framework of peace initiatives aimed at restoring trust between our Georgian-Abkhazian and Georgian-Ossetian societies divided by the occupation lines and improving the socio-economic situation of the conflict-affected population,” she added.
“Together with the Secretary-General, we also discussed concrete ways to further strengthen our joint efforts to achieve more tangible results in the work of building peace and ensuring decent standards for our population,” she concluded.
Meeting with GD Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze
On April 23, another meeting was held between the OSCE’s Feridun Sinirlioğlu and the GD’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.
The discussions touched on Georgia’s cooperation with the OSCE, the situation in the region, and the challenges facing Georgia, according to the official press release of the GD government administration. “The Prime Minister thanked the OSCE Secretary General for his visit to Georgia and for the close cooperation,” the press release says.
“Georgia’s adherence to democratic principles, human rights, and the rule of law was once again noted,” the press release adds.
The sides discussed the situation in occupied Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region, with the Georgian side at the meeting expressing appreciation for the OSCE’s co-chairing of the Geneva International Discussions and IPRM meetings. “Georgia’s loyalty to the peace policy was emphasized,” the press release says.
“Special attention was paid to the importance of peace and stability in the South Caucasus and Georgia’s efforts in this regard. It was noted that it’s important for the OSCE to remain the central platform for dialogue on the European security architecture,” the press release said.
“I am pleased to meet with the OSCE Secretary General, H.E. Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu during his visit to Georgia. I am sincerely grateful for the Secretary General’s engagement in fostering our cooperation. Our partnership is essential for strengthening Georgia’s political stability and economic resilience, as well as promoting regional cooperation for addressing common global challenges,” Kobakhidze tweeted after the meeting.
Meeting with GD-elected President Mikheil Kavelashvili
Feridun Sinirlioğlu also met with the GD-elected president Mikheil Kavelashvili on April 23.
Mikheil Kavelashvili’s twitter post reports on the meeting,
“We discussed the current state and future prospects of Georgia-OSCE cooperation, the situation in the South Caucasus region, and the key challenges facing Georgia.
I emphasized the ongoing issues in Georgia’s occupied territories, stressing the importance of keeping this matter prominently on the OSCE agenda.
I expressed gratitude to Mr. Sinirlioğlu for the OSCE’s unwavering support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and underscored the organization’s vital role in promoting a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Once again, I reaffirmed Georgia’s commitment to fostering peace and stability in the South Caucasus through dialogue, constructive cooperation, and a firm focus on national interests.”
Meeting with the GD Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili
Sinirlioğlu’s other meeting was with Georgian rump parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili.
Papuashvili noted that “Georgia is an active member of the OSCE and positively assessed cooperation with the organization,” according to the official press release of the one-party parliament. Sinirlioğlu, for his part, stressed that “the OSCE places great importance on stability and security in Georgia.”
“The sides discussed the political processes in Georgia, the legislative work of the parliament, and the local elections scheduled for October,” the press release adds.
The sides also discussed regional cooperation issues, emphasizing the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
“Productive meeting with OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu. We value our engagement and exchange with OSCE. We discussed political processes in Georgia, legislative activity of the Georgian parliament, and preparations for local elections planned this fall. We also outlined the importance of peace and stability in the South Caucasus,” Papuashvili wrote on social media after the meeting.
Source:civil.ge
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