“President should be the main force to struggle for depolarization and stability before, during and after the election period,” said Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili during a joint press conference with President of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen.

President Zourabichvili discoursed on Georgia-Austria relations. She said the year 2022 would mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Salome Zourabichvili thanked Austria for supporting Georgia’s territorial integrity, saying support by the country, which also experienced occupation and now is Georgia’s partner in the European Union, is delightful.

Georgian President noted that Austria has five members in the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM). “This means that you are with us at the delimitation line. It is important that this mission performed the mandate as envisaged by the 2008 truce agreement and could expand to these territories. Probably this could be the very first step in de-escalation,” Zourabichvili said.

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen said Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration aspiration was in focus. Alexander Van der Bellen stressed the importance of consensus among Georgian political parties over the issue.

“Regardless of difficulties in other political aspects, foreign policy is the sphere of consensus, which is significant for drawing closer with Europe. I believe that full implementation of the Association Agreement will be significant for Georgia,” the Austrian President said.

Alexander Van der Bellen noted that sustainable development of democratic institutions also mattered much on the EU integration path.

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili is on her first official visit to Austria.