Swiss FM reaffirms commitment to strengthening ties with Georgia

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said on Friday that Switzerland highly valued its partnership with Georgia and looked forward to further strengthening bilateral ties.

Speaking at a joint briefing with Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili, Cassis highlighted trade as an important driver of progress in Swiss-Georgian relations.

“This is my first official visit to the country. Today, I will meet with the Georgian Prime Minister. Georgia and Switzerland share a long history of friendship and mutual trust. Next year, we will celebrate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. We are ready to make progress and move to the next stage”, Cassis said.

“Trade is an important part of this process. Georgia’s exports to Switzerland have exceeded $100 million, while Swiss exports to Georgia have reached $190 million. We see tremendous potential to build on our existing ties and bring our countries even closer together. The second element is trust, which lies at the heart of our relationship. One concrete manifestation of this is Switzerland’s role in representing Georgia’s interests in Russia. We have carried out this responsibility since 2009, reflecting the trust between our two countries”, he continued.

Cassis also addressed security challenges, warning that the risk of confrontation in Europe remained high.

He stressed that the value of the OSCE lay in bringing all participating States to the same table and creating opportunities for dialogue.

“I would like to remind you that I arrived from Armenia yesterday. In the second half of August, I was in Azerbaijan. The challenges facing this region are central to our discussions. As OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, I am fully aware of the serious challenges confronting the European continent. One could say that the world has turned upside down, and security is no longer as guaranteed as it was years ago. War has returned to Europe, trust has been undermined, and the risk of further confrontation remains high. The multilateral framework in which we both believe offers an opportunity for transformation. The value of the OSCE lies in the fact that all participants sit around the same table, even when their positions differ”, Cassis noted.

“Dialogue is an essential tool for addressing tensions and finding a way forward. Genuine dialogue takes place when everyone is prepared to listen to one another, a principle that is clearly demonstrated here in Georgia. We are examining the role of the OSCE and its contribution across all dimensions of security. Switzerland highly values its partnership with Georgia and looks forward to strengthening these ties in the future”, he added.

Cassis also invited Botchorishvili to attend the meeting of the Committee of Ministers in Lugano.

“I will welcome you there just as warmly as you have welcomed me today”, he concluded.