GD Foreign Minister Visits Austria
Georgian Dream Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili visited Austria on March 26. During her visit, she met with Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger and OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioğlu. During the joint press conference, the Austrian Minister condemned violence against peaceful demonstrators and criticized Georgia’s stalled EU accession progress, citing setbacks in judicial reform, human rights, and electoral integrity. She urged the Georgian authorities to respect freedom of assembly and expression.
After the bilateral meeting, Austrian and Georgian Ministers issued statements that put the meeting in different perspectives.
Georgian Statement
Georgia’s MFA stated that during the meeting, the Austrian side reaffirmed its continued support for Georgia “through its development assistance program” and on all international platforms.
The sides “emphasized the importance of maintaining stability in Georgia and the wider region for sustainable development,” the press release read. It said that Austria reaffirmed its support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Austria also reiterated its support for Georgia’s European integration, while “the Georgian side reiterated its commitment to joining the European Union” and “expressed its readiness to take further steps in this direction, including fulfilling obligations under the Association Agreement,” the statement asserted.
Austrian Press Release
Following the meeting, the Austrian Foreign Ministry issued a statement reiterating concerns over Georgia’s political trajectory and the use of force against protesters. Meinl-Reisinger emphasized that violence against peaceful demonstrators and members of the opposition is unacceptable.
“A change of course is urgently needed here! Dialogue with the political opposition and civil society is essential – we call on political leaders to overcome divisions and polarisation,” the statement read.
The press release outlined the EU’s commitment to supporting Georgian civil society despite the suspension of financial aid to the GD government. It also highlighted the need for collective efforts to counter Russian destabilization tactics and reinforce the international rules-based order.
“Austria fully supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia,” the press release concluded.
Joint Press Conference
During the joint press conference, Meinl-Reisinger was notably critical of Georgia’s current political trajectory, stating that the country has “shifted into reverse gear” regarding the EU accession process.
Explaining the purpose of her meeting with Botchorishvili, the Austrian Minister emphasized that she “is opposed to completely closing the door” with Georgia, and noted that it was essential to maintain open channels of communication with the country, underlining that Vienna expects from Tbilisi “more engaging efforts towards this European path.”
The Austrian FM highlighted concerns, including setbacks in judicial reforms, human rights issues, and irregularities in the October 26 parliamentary elections. She strongly condemned the violence against peaceful pro-EU protesters and urged Georgian authorities to respect freedom of assembly and accountability.
The Austrian FM highlighted significant concerns, including setbacks in judicial reforms, human rights issues, and irregularities in the October 26 parliamentary elections. She strongly condemned the violence against peaceful pro-EU protesters and urged Georgian authorities to respect freedom of assembly and accountability.
She mentioned the irregularities in the October 26 parliamentary elections, as documented by OSCE/ODIHR, and expressed serious concerns about legislation targeting civil society.
Explaining the purpose of her meeting with Botchorishvili, the Austrian minister emphasized that she “is opposed to completely closing the door” with Georgia and noted that it was essential to maintain open channels of communication, underlining that “Vienna has long been a hub for dialogue and diplomacy.”
Meinl-Reisinger said that she strongly articulated to Botchorishvili that Austria condemns the violence against peaceful pro-EU protesters and media representatives. She urged the GD authorities to respect the freedom of expression and assembly and refrain from using force.
The Austrian FM also addressed broader geopolitical challenges, particularly Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine. She stressed that it’s important “to strengthen resilience” against Russian attempts to destabilize institutions and spread disinformation. The minister emphasized that if the international order is based not on rules but on the idea that “might is right,” the consequences for states like Austria and Georgia will be vast.
She touched upon the importance of dialogue between the political parties and the civil society in Georgia and keeping up the dialogue with the EU.
In turn, GD FM Botchorishvili expressed gratitude to Austria for its support of Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. She stressed the economic ties between the two countries. She said that it’s Georgia’s “sovereign choice” to be part of the EU and expressed the hopes that “soon we will have possibility to engage in an open dialogue” on Georgia’s membership in the European Union.
When asked about the European Parliament’s position not to recognize October 26’s parliamentary elections and the GD-elected president, Botchorishvili alleged that there was no evidence of election fraud, noting that over 1,200 international observers were present during the elections. She added that every political party had the opportunity to register and participate.
Botchorishvili further claimed that the Georgian population made their choice “in a free environment.”
She stressed the importance of respecting the “democratic choice” of the Georgian people. She described European integration as the top priority of Georgia’s foreign policy and expressed hope for continued dialogue with European partners. Botchorishvili emphasized that Georgia belongs to the European family.
Meeting with OSCE’s Secretary General
Botchorishvili also met with Feridun Sinirlioğlu, the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). MFA reported that the discussion primarily centered on the situation in Georgia’s occupied regions, with Sinirlioğlu expressing keen interest in recent developments in these territories.
“Particular attention was given to the security challenges in the region and the necessary measures to address them,” the MFA’s statement said.
Botchorishvili emphasized the importance of the Geneva International Discussions and the OSCE’s role in conflict resolution and underlined the necessity of peaceful settlement efforts grounded in international legal principles.
The statement added that the Georgian Dream FM reiterated the GD authorities’ “readiness to continue working closely with the OSCE on advancing democratic development and protecting human rights.”
The news was updated on March 27 at 12:17 p.m. to include Georgia’s MFA statement and at 13:15 p.m. to add Botchorishvili’s meeting with the OSCE’s Secretary General.
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