“The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office’s visit to Georgia confirms unwavering support for our country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and underscores the importance of Georgia’s occupation for the OSCE agenda,” declared Georgia’s Foreign Minister, Maka Botchorishvili, at a joint press conference with the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Finland’s Foreign Minister, Elina Valtonen.

According to Botchorishvili, cooperation within the OSCE framework holds particular significance for Georgia.

“Today, Georgia hosts the Finnish Foreign Minister and current OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Elina Valtonen, who is visiting our country for the first time. The OSCE Chairperson’s traditional visit to Georgia confirms unwavering support for our country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and underscores the importance of Georgia’s occupation for the OSCE agenda.

In the current highly complex geopolitical context, cooperation within the OSCE framework holds particular significance for Georgia. I wish to thank you for visiting Georgia as part of Finland’s OSCE Chairpersonship. Tomorrow you will visit the occupation line and see for yourself how visible and how close the threats are that we discussed during today’s meeting, and which Georgia’s government consistently raises within international organisations.

The occupation of Georgia’s regions has neither justification nor ground. The occupation has grave consequences for our country’s security and for the entire region’s security. The occupation has grave consequences for people deprived of the possibility of realising their own rights. This is precisely why it is the duty of us all to uphold the international order, to remain faithful to the principles of international law, and to do everything to seek peace and chart the path towards peace precisely through observance of legal principles,” declared Maka Botchorishvili.

According to the Foreign Minister, the Georgian government’s primary driving force is the struggle to ensure peace and stability.

“In this process, every step matters. I would like to take this opportunity to comment on today’s decision by the European Court of Human Rights, which requires the Russian Federation to pay over 253 million euros to Georgia in recognition of rights violations. Such victories are significant for achieving our ultimate goal by peaceful means. In our struggle to ensure peace, the support of our international partners naturally holds particular significance,” noted Maka Botchorishvili.

According to Maka Botchorishvili, today’s meeting addressed the Geneva International Discussions as an important format in which OSCE representatives are also engaged.

“Once again, I wish to emphasise the necessity of implementing the August 12, 2008, ceasefire agreement and the importance of the return of internally displaced persons and refugees. Disregard for international norms, violation of a country’s sovereignty, and steps taken towards annexation must not remain beyond the international community’s attention. We must work to ensure that Georgia has no dividing lines that separate families, communities, and our country. The illegal military presence in the occupied territories threatens not only Georgia but the entire region’s security,” declared Maka Botchorishvili.

According to the Georgian FM, the meeting also discussed the situation in the South Caucasus. Botchorishvili stated that Georgia has always been and remains a defender and facilitator of peace and stability in the region.

“We also discussed Georgia’s priorities. Once again, I wish to emphasise the importance, given our country’s aspirations and geostrategic location, of maintaining substantive, results-oriented dialogue with the European Union, which will bring outcomes and benefits for both sides.

Finally, Georgia, as a member of the OSCE, is a country committed to international rules and standards, placing great importance on relations based on mutual respect. Cooperation within international organisations matters to us, and I reaffirm our readiness to continue working within the OSCE’s independent institutions and within the organisation.

In conclusion, I thank you once again for coming to Georgia. I express the hope that your next visit will be in a bilateral format, and we shall have a greater opportunity to contribute to deepening relations between Georgia and Finland,” declared Maka Botchorishvili.