Related items

• MEETING OF THE PRESIDENT OF TURKMENISTAN WITH THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL

  On September 18, 2023, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, who is on a working visit to New York to participate in the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

  Thanking President Serdar Berdimuhamedov for his personal participation in the global forum, the UN Secretary-General noted the active and proactive position of our country in cooperation with the Community of Nations.

  Welcoming the UN Secretary-General, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov congratulated him on the successful start of the 78th session of the General Assembly, expressing confidence that it will make an important contribution to strengthening global peace and security and promoting sustainable development on the planet.

  During the interested exchange of views on the priority areas of bilateral partnership, it was emphasized that Turkmenistan, guided by the principles of positive neutrality, is implementing a foreign policy aimed at ensuring the well-being of the peoples of the region and the whole world.

  As noted, our country unswervingly follows the generally accepted norms of international law and the principles of the UN Charter, which is called upon to act as the main regulatory body in international relations and solutions to problems caused by global challenges. In this regard, multifaceted cooperation with the UN is a strategic priority for Turkmenistan. Our country fully supports the initiatives of the world community, carried out under the auspices of the United Nations and aimed at ensuring peace, security and sustainable development.

  In this regard, the effective nature of Turkmenistan’s long-term interaction with the UN and its specialized structures was emphasized. This fruitful partnership is also embodied in the implementation of constructive initiatives of a regional and global nature put forward by the Turkmen side, in the joint implementation of major projects and programs in various fields.

• Conflict in Georgia: Secretary General’s Consolidated Report says little progress in human rights and humanitarian situation in conflict-affected areas

  Strasbourg, 19.04.2023 – Serious concerns persist regarding the human rights situation in the areas affected by the armed conflict between the Russian Federation and Georgia in August 2008, according to a report by Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić presented to the Committee of Ministers and published today.

  The bi-annual report (covering the period November 2022–March 2023) on the conflict in Georgia highlighted that core issues concerning the human rights and humanitarian situation in the conflict-affected areas continue to see little progress. Various restrictions on freedom of movement and access to education and healthcare remain of serious concern, including in terms of their impact on vulnerable groups.

  Against the continuous impediments by the Russian Federation to peaceful conflict resolution, security, and stability in the wider region, the Secretary General welcomed Georgia’s continuous efforts and initiatives aimed at promoting dialogue and reconciliation, and their provision of free access to health care, education, and other social benefits for all residents of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as their efforts to address the needs of internally displaced persons.

  During the period under review, operational activities on Confidence-Building Measures were continued. The report, for instance, notes that archive specialists from both sides of the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) continued to work in online format and met in person, for the first time since the Covid-19 public health crisis. Efforts have been initiated to facilitate dialogue between psychologists specialised in war traumas and on the prevention of gender-based violence on both sides of the ABL. The development of further initiatives continues in close co-ordination with the Office of the State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civic Equality.

  Secretary General stressed that continuing her periodic reporting to the Committee of Ministers on the conflict in Georgia will remain a high priority.

  Note for Editors
  Consolidated reports on the conflict in Georgia have been prepared by the Secretary General since 2010, following a Committee of Ministers decision. The current report is based, inter alia, on the results of the fact-finding visit to Tbilisi on 13-14 February 2023. The delegation also had the possibility to observe the situation at the Administrative Boundary Line.

  The current Consolidated report examines, inter alia, the implementation of the European Court’s judgments in the two inter-state cases “Georgia v. Russia (II)”, concerning the armed conflict between Georgia and the Russian Federation in 2008 and its consequences, and "Georgia v. Russia" (I)” concerning arrests, detentions and expulsions from the Russian Federation of Georgian nationals in 2006-2007.

  On 20 April, the European Court of Human Rights is due to deliver a ruling on the inter-state application “Georgia v. Russia (IV)”, lodged by the Government of Georgia in August 2018, which concerns the alleged deterioration of the human rights situation along the administrative boundary lines between Georgian-controlled territory and Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

• "Three Seas Initiative: The right time and right place for the 3SI to be discussed in Georgia"

  On April 11, 2023 Rondeli Foundation, in cooperation with the Romanian Embassy in Georgia, hosted a discussion on "Three Seas Initiative (3SI): The right time and right place for the 3SI to be discussed in Georgia."

  The purpose of the discussion was to expand the platform of the "Three Seas Initiative" and promote dialogue among the interested parties.

  The discussion was led by Alex Petriashvili, Senior Fellow at Rondeli Foundation. The participants of the discussion were addressed by the opening remarks delivered by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Teimuraz Janjalia. The main speakers of the event were Associate Professor of Kyiv University, Victoria Vdovichenko, Romanian Ambassador to Georgia, Razvan Rotundu, Lithuanian Ambassador to Georgia, Andrius Kalindra, Secretary General of the European Union-Georgia Business Council, Zviad Chumburidze and former senior analyst of the Polish Institute of Foreign Affairs, Arkadiusz Legic.

  It should be noted that such platforms as the "Three Seas Initiative" are significant for countries that strive for European and Euro-Atlantic integration, in particular, for Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova. Thus, as a Black Sea coastal state, it is natural for Georgia to participate in this initiative. Moreover, it is planned to involve Georgia in energy and digital infrastructure projects. It will be a regional cooperation that includes the member states of the Black Sea and the Adriatic Sea, and in the future, it is meant to deepen the collaboration with the Baltic Sea countries.

  The participants discussed the ways of cooperation with the "Three Seas Initiative" platform for countries such as Georgia and Ukraine. The increasing importance of this platform was emphasized after February 24, 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale aggression in Ukraine.

  The Romanian Ambassador participating in the discussion noted that another summit will be held in Bucharest on September 6, 2023, and expressed hope that the representatives of Ukraine and Georgia will take an active part in it; The Ambassador of Lithuania announced that next year Lithuania will take up the presidency and in turn, will put all efforts to reduce the Russian influence in the relations among the countries of the "Three Seas Initiative." The Polish expert spoke about the military and political importance of the platform and the aspects of its development in this direction. At the same time, the Secretary General of the EU-Georgia Business Council, Zviad Chumburidze, among other topics, focused on the need to construct the Anaklia Deep Sea Port.

  An engaging Q&A session followed the discussion. The participants unanimously noted that such meetings are beneficial in disseminating information about the "Three Seas Initiative" and discussing the prospects of Georgia's integration.

   

  https://gfsis.org.ge/.../meetings-and-discussions/view/1567
• TEIMURAZ JANJALIA HAS PARTICIPATED IN THE SENIOR OFFICIAL MEETINGS (SOM) HELD IN BRUSSELS

  The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Teimuraz Janjalia participated  in the Senior Official Meetings (SOM) held in Brussels, on 30 March 2023. The meeting was attended by representatives of the European Union External Action Service, the European Commission, the Member States of the European Union and the countries of the Eastern Partnership.

  Within the framework of the meeting, the sides discussed the priorities in order to strengthen cooperation within the framework of the Eastern Partnership; In this regard, the 2023 work plan of the "Eastern Partnership" was discussed. In addition, the sides spoke about the implementation process of the flagship projects developed within the framework of the Eastern Partnership economic and investment plan.

  In his speech, the deputy minister emphasized the importance of effectively using all formats with the European Union, including the Eastern Partnership, which ensures even greater rapprochement with the European Union. Teimuraz Janjalia paid particular attention to the role of the Eastern Partnership economic and investment plan and the economic and political importance of the implementation of the flagship projects developed for Georgia within the plan. The deputy minister spoke about deepening cooperation with the European Union in the direction of connectivity, energy security and transport, as well as digital infrastructure. In this context, emphasis was placed on the need to fully exploit the potential of the Black Sea and future plans for the development of Black Sea infrastructure connecting the European Union and Georgia. In this context, Teimuraz Janjalia put forth the idea of holding a high-level seminar on connectivity issues in Tbilisi in 2023.

  The deputy minister focused on the importance of strengthening strategic communications and combating disinformation within the framework of the Eastern Partnership, as well as deepening cooperation in the field of security.

• TEIMURAZ JANJALIA HAS MET WITH THE LATVIAN AMBASSADOR TO GEORGIA

  On 27 March 2023, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Teimuraz Janjalia, held a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to Georgia, Edite Mednes.
  At the meeting, the sides reviewed the issues of bilateral cooperation between the two countries. The importance of regular political dialogue, including the importance of exchanging high-level visits was also highlighted. Discussions focused on the process of Georgia's integration into the European Union. The Deputy Minister informed the Latvian Ambassador of the progress achieved by Georgia in the process of fulfilling the European Commission’s 12 recommendations. The Deputy Minister and the Latvian Ambassador also discussed other pressing issues on the agenda.