The OSCE has released information regarding the completion of the visit of its Acting Chairperson and Finland’s Foreign Minister, Elina Valtonen, to Georgia.
The relevant press release has been published on the OSCE’s official website.
According to the statement, during her visit to Georgia, Valtonen met with Georgia’s Foreign Minister, Maka Bochorishvili, as well as representatives of civil society and independent analytical centers.
During high-level meetings, Acting Chairperson Valtonen assured her counterparts of the OSCE’s continued support for the Geneva International Discussions and the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism. Minister Valtonen also reviewed the long-term consequences of the 2008 war in Georgia during a visit to the administrative boundary line with the EU Monitoring Mission.
“Addressing the concerns of people living near the dividing line requires sustained attention from the international community to the conflict context. I appreciate the active efforts of my Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Ambassador Christoph Späth, in this regard,” the OSCE quoted Minister Valtonen as saying.
Furthermore, according to the statement, Valtonen informed her counterparts about the concerns of OSCE participating states and institutions regarding Georgia’s democratic governance and restrictive legislation that hinders the space for civil society, media workers, and journalists.
“NGOs, human rights defenders, journalists, and other civil society actors are the lifeblood of democratic resilience. They confront injustice, drive innovation, and hold those in power accountable. Their voices must not only be heard but also protected. The Georgian government must find a way out of the crisis and restore public trust in its democratic institutions,” Valtonen stated, as quoted by the OSCE.
The press release also notes that she reaffirmed the OSCE’s readiness to support Georgia in fulfilling its commitments.
OSCE releases information on the completion of the visit of Acting Chairperson and Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen to Georgia
