The Georgian Foreign Minister, Ilia Darchiashvili, kicked off bilateral meetings with European colleagues during the OSCE ministerial.

On the first day, the Minister met with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of NATO in the South Caucasus and Central Asia, Javier Colomina. Discussions covered the NATO-Georgia agenda, Georgia’s progress on the Euro-Atlantic integration path, prospects for deepening practical cooperation, and expectations for the 2024 NATO Washington Summit.

Ilia Darchiashvili also met with the Federal Minister of European and International Affairs of Austria, Alexander Schallenberg. The discussion covered Georgia’s EU integration process, the positive European Commission’s recommendation for granting Georgia candidate status, and Austria’s political support in the subsequent process. Both ministers expressed hope for the European Council to grant Georgia candidate status and continue the historical process of European integration. Ilia Darchiashvili thanked his Austrian colleague for supporting Georgia’s European aspirations and discussed the regional security environment.

Additionally, Ilia Darchiashvili met with the Head of the Foreign Ministry of Iceland, Bjarni Benediktsson, discussing the positive dynamics of Georgia-Iceland cooperation and exploring possibilities for further development. They emphasized the need to strengthen political dialogue amid global geopolitical challenges. The head of Georgia’s Foreign Ministry expressed gratitude for Iceland’s support for Georgia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and European aspirations.

Ilia Darchiashvili is expected to hold up to 15 meetings with European colleagues and OSCE leaders during the OSCE ministerial in Skopje. He will also address the session of the Council of Ministers of the OSCE, focusing on the situation in Georgia’s occupied regions and seeking international community support.

The OSCE Ministerial is taking place in Skopje on November 29-December 1, hosted by North Macedonia. Delegations from OSCE member countries, including the US Secretary of State and the EU High Representative for Security and Foreign Policy, participate in the ministerial meeting.