OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, in Tbilisi, highlights the need for confidence-building

TBILISI, 1 July 2016 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, today concluded his three-day visit to the South Caucasus in Georgia. In Tbilisi, Steinmeier met the Georgian political leadership, including President Giorgi Margvelashvili, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze and the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament David Usupashvili.

One topic of the political talks were the Geneva International Discussions, addressing the consequences of the 2008 war with a view to achieving concrete results to the benefit of the people. “Germany fully supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia,” Steinmeier said in a joint press conference with Janelidze. “I commend the Georgian leadership for its pragmatic approach which keeps doors open. Such an approach is essential for building confidence.” Steinmeier reiterated that a mere administration of the status quo was neither sufficient nor sustainable.

Steinmeier re-affirmed his full support to the activities of Günther Bächler, his Special Representative for the South Caucasus, who co-chairs the Geneva discussions and who accompanied the Chairperson-in-Office during this visit. Steinmeier welcomed the resumption of meetings in Gali of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM), a result of the Geneva International Discussions.

After his talks with the Georgian political leadership, Steinmeier addressed the opening of the 25th Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

The Chairperson-in-Office also used the opportunity to meet young professionals from Georgia’s national minority communities who took part in a Multiparty Dialogue Project implemented by the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM).

Georgia was the last stage of Steinmeier’s official trip to the South Caucasus, lasting from 29 June to 1 July, which had seen Armenia and Azerbaijan as previous destinations.