Georgian FM delivers speech at UNSC

While the UN, OSCE and EU have been engaged in international talks between Georgia and Russia as the co-moderators of the Geneva International Discussions for 8 years now, more needs to be done to deliver on tangible results, which first and foremost requires political will and commitment from all, - Georgia’s Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze said while delivering speech at United Nations Security Council. 

“It requires more stewardship on behalf of the Co-Chairs and the Secretary-General in guiding and assessing the process based on the principles and norms of international law. We should all support the Secretary-General in assuming stronger leadership role.

My country has been long committed to the constructive and peaceful policy of reconciliation and confidence building. Let me stress, that Georgia is committed to good neighborly relations and strives to have peace in the region. It was in this spirit that Georgia undertook the unilateral non-use of force commitment, which was never reciprocated.

Since 2012, the Government of Georgia has been seeking the de-escalation of relations with the Russian Federation, by making constructive and practical steps. We have established dialogue on issues related to trade, transport, people-to-people relations, aimed at de-escalation tensions, which has provided some positive outcomes.

We work constructively in the format of Geneva International Discussions, open for constructive negotiations. Last year was marked by the restoration of the Gali Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism.

As concerns the relations with our compatriots living in the occupied territories, the ethnic Abkhaz and Ossetians, are an integral part of our common history and future, despite the current artificial barriers. There is no alternative to the return of the IPDs and refugees to their homes and to the full re-integration of all ethnicities into a vibrant society where human rights and individual freedoms as well as cultural and linguistic diversity of different communities are the Georgian State’s top priorities.

We firmly pursue the engagement, confidence building and reconciliation process with the people living in the occupied territories. We are offering all benefits which are open to Georgian citizens. We stand ready to offer all the progress we will be having on our development path,” Janelidze stated.