OSCE Chairperson-in-Office reaffirms commitment to Geneva International Discussions during visit to Georgia

TBILISI, 2 June 2015 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić visited Tbilisi today, where he met President Giorgi Margvelashvili, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tamar Beruchashvili and Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili, as well as members of other political parties.

Dačić stressed that the OSCE would continue to support Georgia in addressing external and internal challenges. “We support the development of a strong and vibrant democracy in Georgia through implementation of OSCE commitments,” he said. “Fresh thinking is needed," he added, "if we are to find a way to manage effectively the OSCE's diverse activities in Georgia, and ensure that the challenges it faces remain front and centre of the OSCE agenda."

The Chairperson-in-Office praised the co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions for their persistent efforts to advance the process, and encouraged all participants to engage in creative reflection in order to avoid jeopardising it. “These discussions remain the only inclusive platform to address the consequences of the 2008 conflict and need to be reinvigorated,” Dačić said.

He underlined the value of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM). "This continues to serve as an example of pragmatic co-operation," he said, "one aimed at helping resolve security and humanitarian challenges through restoration of mutual trust." Dačić reiterated his support for the work of his Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Ambassador Angelo Gnaedinger, who co-facilitates the Incident Prevention Response Mechanism (IPRM) in Ergneti together with the head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia.

The visit to Georgia followed the Chairperson-in-Office’s meetings in Azerbaijan yesterday. His trip to South Caucasus will be concluded tomorrow, 3 June, with a visit to Armenia.