OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid ends two-day visit to Georgia
TBILISI, 16 June 2021 — OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid concluded her visit to Georgia yesterday, following two days of intensive discussions and field visits.
“This trip has afforded me the opportunity to discuss ways to strengthen co-operation and how the OSCE can continue providing meaningful assistance to meet the needs of conflict-affected people, and supporting efforts towards building trust and fostering dialogue,” said Schmid.
During her visit, Schmid met with Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili; Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili; Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs David Zalkaliani; and Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Tea Akhvlediani.
The focus of the talks were on concrete areas of co-operation, such as tackling transnational threats and anti-trafficking, and the OSCE’s continued support to Georgia as part of a comprehensive approach to security. The Organization’s role as a vital instrument for resolving conflicts, domestic affairs as well recent regional developments were among the topics discussed.
During her trip, Schmid attended the opening of a rehabilitated potable water supply system that provides clean drinking water to conflict-affected households in the village of Tsitsagiaantkari, implemented together with Georgian authorities as well as local and international partners.
Secretary General Schmid also met with Chairman of Parliament Kakhaber Khuchava and a wide spectrum of members of parliament, including from the Parliamentary Assembly Delegation of Georgia. Schmid noted that, “parliamentarians, from all political forces, have a vital role to play in strengthening democratic institutions and the country’s resilience in the face of internal and external challenges”.
As part of her visit, Schmid addressed participants of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) who met for the 100th time in Ergneti.
The OSCE jointly with the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) continues its efforts in this crucial platform, which forms a key element in the architecture of the Geneva International Discussions, co-chaired by the OSCE with the EU and UN.
Secretary General Schmid recalled the need to continue engagement with all stakeholders and stressed: “It is a special moment for me to be here today, having been closely involved in setting up this mechanism 12 years ago. It remains crucial for defusing tensions and solving concrete security and humanitarian issues, and also to alleviate the burden of the conflict-affected people.”
While in Tbilisi, Schmid met civil society representatives and local partners. She also saw the very committed OSCE staff at the office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.