FM Botchorishvili: Visit of OSCE Chairperson-in-Office is clear confirmation that Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity remain high on OSCE agenda

“Visiting Georgia today in his capacity as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office is the Vice President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Ignacio Cassis. Over the course of this year, we have had numerous opportunities to meet and discuss the OSCE agenda as well as ongoing developments in Georgia and the wider region,” Foreign Minister of Georgia Maka Botchorishvili stated during a joint press conference with Swiss Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ignacio Cassis.

According to Botchorishvili, despite frequent communication, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office’s visit to Georgia holds “particular significance for Georgia as an OSCE participating state.”

Furthermore, the Georgian Foreign Minister noted that during her meeting with Ignacio Cassis, they focused on regional developments, opportunities for cooperation within the OSCE framework, Georgia’s challenges, and the organisation’s role.

“The traditional visit of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to Georgia is a clear confirmation that the vital issue of supporting Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity remains firmly on the OSCE agenda. This is crucial for us, especially given today’s geopolitical context. Switzerland, for its part, is a special partner for Georgia. Beyond holding the OSCE Chairmanship, Switzerland has served for many years as a mediator in Russian–Georgian relations. Consequently, the convergence of these two roles carries exceptional weight, making Switzerland a particularly key partner for us.

In light of the consequences of the Russian–Georgian conflict, seeking peaceful avenues for conflict resolution and utilising every available tool remain highly topical. The OSCE co-chairs the Geneva International Discussions. For Georgia, the Geneva International Discussions format remains the sole framework providing an opportunity for dialogue on a matter of national importance: Russia’s occupation of two Georgian regions and its severe repercussions. Therefore, continuing work within this format and maintaining the engagement of international partners is essential for Georgia,” Maka Botchorishvili noted.

The Georgian Foreign Minister stated that Ignacio Cassis would have the opportunity today to visit the occupation line and observe firsthand the daily security challenges on the ground.

“Georgia firmly continues its policy of peaceful conflict resolution, which entails, on the one hand, the de-occupation of territories occupied by Russia, and on the other hand, confidence-building and reconciliation among conflict-affected populations. Securing long-term peace and stability in our region is more critical than ever, given the increasingly complex geopolitical climate. Safeguarding Georgia’s sovereignty and making decisions grounded in our own national interests is the only way to preserve peace in our country. It is precisely as a result of this policy that Georgia manages to maintain stability, foster dynamic economic development, and fulfil a vital role and function in the region,” Botchorishvili noted.

According to Maka Botchorishvili, the economic dimension within the OSCE framework is also vital, with connectivity playing a key role, an area where Georgia’s contribution is equally noteworthy.

“We discussed strengthening cooperation in this direction and expanding opportunities within the economic dimension as a key component of security. We also discussed the vital role of smoothly functioning OSCE institutions and the challenges surrounding ongoing attempts to weaponise the organisation. Georgia is a constructive and responsible OSCE participating state, committed to the organisation’s principles and respectful of its institutions. Today, we remain acutely aware of the complexities and challenges inherent in modern multilateral diplomacy. We reaffirm our readiness to contribute, through relations founded on mutual respect, to upholding the principles and norms that underpin the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Once again, I thank you for visiting Georgia as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. I wish you every success in concluding your OSCE Chairmanship—an outcome that by no means marks the end of our relationship with Switzerland as a friendly state. I would like to highlight the extraordinary momentum and relations existing within our bilateral framework. We are only too pleased and ready to contribute further to strengthening and deepening these relations. Thank you very much for visiting Georgia,” Maka Botchorishvili concluded.