We are committed to the OSCE and the principles of the OSCE – we are one of the many states that have the right to claim that, as an OSCE Chairmanship country, it should make its contribution to the work of this organization, – this statement was made by Georgia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Maka Bochorishvili at the briefing held together with OSCE Chairperson Ignazio Cassis.

Bochorishvili also stated that international organizations should not be used as an instrument. In this context she spoke about the OSCE “Vienna Mechanism” and “Moscow Mechanism” used against Georgia.

“Georgia is a participating state of the OSCE. It is committed to its principles and the institutions of this organization. It approaches every challenge that may exist precisely in the sense of making a contribution to the work of this organization.

Georgia has shown openness in relation to every mechanism that was used within the framework of the OSCE with regard to Georgia. We were open when the Vienna Mechanism was activated, which was decided by a part of the OSCE participating states. Likewise, when a part of the OSCE participating states took the decision to use the ‘Moscow Mechanism’, Georgia also cooperated with dignity with the organization and with the expert selected by the organization. We gave them the opportunity to have meetings, to seek all the necessary information and to draw conclusions on the existing situation.

We, of course, have the right to assess for ourselves what the conclusions are like and what this or that instrument is like or for what purpose it is used. We have said more than once and I will repeat once again that we must avoid the use of international organizations as an instrument, because this is an important framework created for dialogue, for the protection of common principles, and it is important that we cooperate with one another.

Georgia has always been open to cooperation within the framework of the organization and will remain so no matter what. This work may sometimes be pleasant and sometimes not so pleasant. From our side the main thing that has been said is that we are committed to this organization and the principles of the organization. We are a country that is constructively engaged in the work of the organization. We are one of the many states that have the right to claim that, as a Chairmanship country of the organization, it should make its contribution to the work of the organization,” – stated Maka Bochorishvili.

Switzerland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ignazio Cassis, is visiting Georgia. Ignazio Cassis had already been in Armenia and arrived in Georgia from Yerevan.

According to information released by the Swiss government, these two visits constitute the second part of Ignazio Cassis’s regional visit program; the first part of the program was carried out on 3–5 August in Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.