OSCE committed to conflict resolution efforts through the Geneva Discussions, assisting with democratic reforms, says OSCE Chairperson on visit to Georgia

TBILISI, 15 March 2011 - The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis, emphasized the OSCE's commitment to achieving progress on security and stability issues through the Geneva Discussions and addressing urgent humanitarian concerns for the benefit of affected communities while in Tbilisi today.

Ažubalis also underlined that Lithuanian's 2011 Chairmanship remained committed to developing the OSCE’s activities on the ground and to supporting Georgia in further democratic reforms.

"Georgia and the South Caucasus are important for the stability of the whole OSCE region. The OSCE is commited to achieving progress in the Geneva Discussions and addressing urgent humanitarian issues, including the situation of internally displaced persons," said the Chairperson following meetings with Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze and David Bakradze, the Chairman of the Parliament. "The Dvani/Ergneti Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism established under the Geneva Discussions is especially important to increase trust and help resolve security and humanitarian challenges."

"The OSCE is also supporting affected communities by addressing problems with the supply of gas and water. Preparations for several projects to supply potable and irrigation water have been completed, and the OSCE continues to work towards the resumption of gas supplies." 

The Geneva Discussions are co-chaired by the OSCE, UN and EU. The next meeting is scheduled for 7 June.

"The OSCE is concerned about the issue of military build-up dealt with under the Geneva Discussions," said the Chairperson. "There is an urgent need to improve military transparency, and I urge the Geneva participants to continue addressing this issue."

Tomorrow Ažubalis will meet Prime Minister Nika Gilauri, Ekaterine Tkeshelashvili, the State Minister for Conflicts and Reintegration, Giorgi Bokeria, the Secretary of the National Security Council, and the Patriarch of Georgia, Ilia II, as well as representatives of political parties. He will also travel to the EU Monitoring Mission's Mtskheta office to meet Ambassador Hansjoerg Haber, the Head of the Mission, to discuss the security situation, and meet families living in an IDP settlement in Tserovani.

In his meetings the Chairperson will present the priorities of Lithuania's Chairmanship, including advancing the settlement of the region's protracted conflicts, and promoting media freedom, energy security and regional co-operation, in particular on border management and fighting transnational threats. Ažubalis will also discuss the follow-up process to the Astana Commemorative Declaration, which was adopted by the Heads of State and Government at the OSCE Summit in Astana in December.

"The OSCE supports Georgia's democratic development. An urgent issue is amending the country's Election Code ahead of the parliamentary elections next year, and I welcome Georgia's efforts to establish broad, inclusive consultations. I trust that amendments to the Law on Broadcasting will also take into account the legal assessment provided by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media," he said.

"The OSCE and its institutions, including the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Representative on Freedom of the Media, stand ready to offer continued support for these reform efforts."

Ažubalis added that the Lithuanian Chairmanship would continue to focus on establishing a meaningful OSCE presence on the ground in Georgia. The OSCE Mission to Georgia was discontinued in mid-2009 after the 56 OSCE states could not reach consensus on its mandate.

The Chairperson visited Azerbaijan earlier in the week and will be in Armenia on 17 and 18 March.