The State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Mrs. Ketevan Tsikhelashvili met with the Secretary General of the Austrian Ministry of European and International Affairs Mr. Michael Linhart, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Austria to Georgia Mr. Arad Benkö and the Delegation of the Foreign Ministry.
The conversation shaped the issues of Georgian-Austrian cooperation. State Minister and Secretary General discussed the situation in the occupied territories, as well as the role of international engagement into the conflict settlement process from the perspective of the next Austrian OSCE Chairmanship.
Mrs. Ketevan Tsikhelashvili underscored the importance of confidence building, encouragement to people-to-people contacts and dialogue, support of the partners to reconciliation of war-torn communities and OSCE engagement into Geneva Format. The State Minister stressed that support to de-occupation is a wide dimension and this undertaking is a prerequisite to peaceful settlement of the conflict, ensuring durable stability and peace.
Mr. Michael Linhart has reiterated his support to Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, noting that starting in 2017 the Republic of Austria will support the active involvement of OSCE with regard to conflict settlement process through its chairmanship mandate.
The opening ceremony of the Embassy of the Republic of Austria to Georgia took place today on 22 September.