OSCE Chair, Austrian Federal Minister Visits Georgia
TBILISI - Sebastian Kurz, Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs and OSCE Chairman, welcomed the European Parliament’s decision to grant Georgians visa-free regime with the European Union (EU) while paying official visit to Georgia on February 2nd and 3rd.
“Georgia is on the right path, pursuing the goal of deepening its relations with the EU,” Kurz said at a press-conference after meeting with Georgia’s Foreign Minister, Mikheil Janelidze.
Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)reports that the parties discussed the ways of increasing OSCE’s involvement in the peaceful resolution of the Russian-Georgian conflict focusing on the security, humanitarian, and human rights situation in Georgia’s occupied territories – Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The officials also mentioned involvement of the OSCE Austrian Chairmanship to aid in the process of confidence building between the communities living on both sides of the occupation line.
“Special importance was paid to the importance of Georgia’s close co-operation with OSCE institutions in the democratization process of the country. Talking points also included prospects of deepening bilateral relations between Georgia and Austria,” MFA reports.
During the joint press conference the Georgian and Austrian Foreign Ministers emphasized close and friendly relations between the two countries.
Mikheil Janelidze thanked Sebastian Kurz for his personal support of Georgia and for his efforts to make the issue of Georgia one of the priorities on the OSCE agenda.
Austrian minister highlighted the importance of opening an Austrian Embassy in Georgia last September. According to him, prospects for economic co-operation are good and Austrian companies find Georgia's business environment friendly.
Later today Kurz visited the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) in the village of Ergneti, near Georgia's breakaway region of Tskhinvali, South Ossetia, where the regular meetings of Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) take place. He also met with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) living near the ABL.
During Kurz's meeting with Georgia’s Prime Minister, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, they discused democratic reforms implemented in Georgia. They also discused ways of improving living conditions for residents of Georgia's occupied regions.
Then at a meeting between Georgian President, Giorgia Margvelashvili, and the Austrian Foreign Minister the prospect of deepening bilateral relations between Austria and Georgia, especially relating to security issues and economic prospects, was discused
The Austrian official left Tbilisi this evening. It was Kurz’s second visit to Georgia.
“Georgia is a country with great potential,” he said before leaving the country.
By Thea Morrison