Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili hosted OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis in Tbilisi. Following the talks, the sides held a joint press briefing.
According to Bochorishvili, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office’s traditional visit to Georgia serves as clear confirmation that the crucial issue of supporting the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity remains on the organization’s agenda. Given the current geopolitical context, this holds particular significance for Tbilisi, the minister stated.
The foreign minister noted that during the meeting, the parties discussed current developments in the region, prospects for cooperation within the OSCE framework, the challenges facing Georgia, and the organization’s role in addressing them.
“It should also be noted that Switzerland, in addition to holding the OSCE chairpersonship, is a special partner for Georgia. For many years, Switzerland has acted as a mediator in Russian-Georgian relations. In this regard, combining these two functions takes on exceptional importance. Accordingly, Switzerland is an especially vital partner for us.”
Bochorishvili added that seeking peaceful ways to resolve the conflict with Moscow and utilizing all available instruments to that end remains a priority for Tbilisi. According to her, the Geneva International Discussions format remains the only platform providing an opportunity for dialogue on a key issue of national significance—Russia’s occupation of two Georgian regions and its grave consequences. For Georgia, it is of fundamental importance to continue working within this format and maintain the engagement of international partners.
“Georgia remains firmly committed to a peaceful resolution of the conflict, which, on the one hand, entails the de-occupation of the territories held by Russia, and on the other, the rebuilding of trust and reconciliation among the conflict-affected population. Achieving lasting peace and stability in our region, given the current geopolitical context, becomes even more urgent and vital. In this situation, defending Georgia’s sovereignty and making decisions based on national interests is the only way to preserve peace in our country,” the foreign minister added.
According to her, it is precisely this policy that has allowed Georgia to maintain stability, achieve dynamic economic development, and secure a pivotal role in the region.
Bochorishvili separately noted that Georgia has submitted a bid to hold the OSCE Chairpersonship in 2027. According to her, while this may seem like an ambitious goal, Georgia has been an OSCE participating State for decades, making its candidacy fully justified.
“Georgia has never had the opportunity to contribute to the work of such an important organization in this capacity [as chair]. We believe that Georgia’s candidacy for the chairpersonship is well-founded, taking into account all the challenges our country faces and the opportunities it possesses in the region. These factors prompted our bid to lead the organization in 2027 and contribute to its development and operations.”
For his part, Ignazio Cassis stated that in a few weeks he looks forward to welcoming Maka Bochorishvili in Lugano for the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting, where he will host her “as warmly as you have welcomed me today.”
According to him, genuine dialogue is possible when all these factors are taken into account, when everyone is in their place and ready to listen to one another. This is clearly reflected in Georgia. The value of the OSCE lies precisely in the fact that all participants sit at the same table, even though they may hold differing views, he explained.
“We look at the OSCE’s role and its contribution across all dimensions of security. Switzerland remains committed to peacebuilding, reconciliation, and human rights protection. We discussed the values and principles that have united all of us within the OSCE family,” Cassis stated.
The OSCE Chair also noted that “war has returned to Europe, trust is eroded, and the risks of further fragmentation and confrontation remain high.” According to him, “the world has been turned upside down, and security is no longer guaranteed the way we believed a decade ago.”
“The security situation globally and regionally, in the South Caucasus, as well as the immense challenges facing this region, were the central focus of our discussion. As OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, I share the concern over the grave challenges confronting the European continent.”
During the briefing, Cassis also touched upon bilateral relations between Georgia and Switzerland. According to him, the talks with Bochorishvili also addressed achieving progress and moving to the next stage.
“Georgia and Switzerland share a long history of mutual friendship and trust. Next year, we will celebrate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, which marks an important milestone in our partnership—one that I value highly. Strong ties have bound our countries for many decades, not only politically but also economically. Close people-to-people contacts have been established.
Today, the subject of our discussion was achieving progress and advancing to the next stage. Trade is an essential part of this process. Georgian exports to Switzerland have exceeded $100 million. Swiss exports have reached $190 million. These are not enormous figures, yet we see tremendous potential to strengthen existing ties and bring our countries closer together.
The second element is trust. It lies at the very heart of our relations. One tangible expression of this trust is Switzerland’s role in representing Georgia’s interests in the Russian Federation. We assumed this responsibility in 2009. Over the years, this has clearly reflected the level of trust between our countries,” Cassis noted.
