Zourabichvili Outlines Georgia’s Priorities in Relations with OSCE

Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili outlined those issues at a news conference after talks with visiting OSCE Chairman-in-Office Dimitrij Rupel, which currently top agenda of Georgia’s relations with OSCE.

“You know that one of our main issues [in regard of OSCE] is resumption of [Russo-Georgian] border monitoring [mission by the OSCE observers], [the issue] how and in which form this can be resumed. Discussion of this issue in the OSCE is still in process. Next week decision will be made [by the OSCE] over [Georgian border guard] training mission [under the OSCE aegis],” Salome Zourabichvili said.

She also said that Georgia holds consultations over the border-related issues with the EU as well. After the OSCE suspended its border monitoring operation at Russo-Georgian border because of Russia’s veto, Georgia appealed the EU with the request to replace OSCE observers with its monitoring mission.

“The second important issue is South Ossetia and the OSCE’s role in South Ossetian conflict settlement. The issue of increase of number of OSCE monitors there [in the South Ossetian conflict zone] is till on the agenda,” the Georgian Foreign Minister said.

“The third issue is opening of a [OSCE] human rights office in Gali [district of breakaway Abkhazia]… For us and for the OSCE the human rights issue very important in Gali and in the rest of Abkhazia. This is crucial for the return of internally displaced persons there, as without the protection of human rights displaced persons will not be able to return,” Salome Zourabichvili said.

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