Statement of the Group of Friends of Georgia at the OSCE
Within the framework of 30th OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting, on 1 December, the Group of Friends of Georgia made a joint statement on behalf of Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
The document reaffirms our full support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. The Group of Friends condemns Russia’s ongoing occupation of Georgia’s Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions. The GoF calls on Russia to comply with the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement and reverse its recognition of the so-called independence of Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
The GoF expresses deep concern over the recent statements regarding the deployment of naval base in the Ochamchire district in the occupied Abkhazia region, as another provocative attempt to destabilize the already dire situation on the ground and wider black sea region.
GoF condemns the dire humanitarian situation and human rights violations in the occupied territories, as well as the recent killing of a peaceful civilian - Georgian citizen, Tamaz Ginturi, in the occupied territory in the vicinity of village Kirbali, Gori Municipality.
GoF supports the effective functioning of Geneva International Discussions (GID), as the only format with the Russian Federation to address implementation of the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement, and underlines the necessity of progress on the core issues of the discussions.
The statement expresses support for Georgian Government’s “A Step to a Better Future” initiative and its “Peace Fund for a Better Future”, aimed at improving the humanitarian and socio-economic conditions of people residing in Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and at fostering confidence building among divided communities.
GoF calls on the OSCE for engagement in the process of finding a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Georgia conflict.
