Brazilian Justice Minister Pays Visit to Georgia
Brazilian Justice Minister, Torquato Jardim, paid a visit to Georgia. The minister was welcomed by Georgia’s Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani, who informed the guest on the priorities of Georgia’s domestic and foreign policy.
The sides also discussed the situation in Georgia’s occupied regions and Georgia’s peace policy. David Zalkaliani thanked the Brazilian government for the support of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The ministers also talked about the successful cooperation within the United Nations format. Special attention was paid to the need to fulfill sustainable development goals and to deepen cooperation within the framework of Open Government Partnership (OGP). Zalkaliani highlighted Georgia’s priorities as a chair of the OGP and welcomed Brazil’s plans to participate in the OGP summit scheduled to be held in Tbilisi, in July.
Torquato Jardim focused particular attention on the importance of providing joint efforts in the fight against organized crime and cyber security issues.
The officials also discussed a broad spectrum of bilateral and multilateral cooperation, noting with satisfaction an increasing number of visits and meetings between the two countries, as well as work towards the improvement of the bilateral contractual framework.
Georgia’s Justice Minister, Thea Tsulukiani, updated Torquato Jardim with the reforms implemented in the country, including within the justice field.
The sides agreed to prolong cooperation in order to provide legal mutual assistance in Criminal and Civil Law. The relevant memorandum is planned to be signed this summer.
According to Torquato Jardim, it was the first meeting of Ministers of Justice of Georgia and Brazil.
“We have agreed to an extensive and important agenda of cooperation. We will work together to solve difficult problems such as drug addiction, arms trade, trafficking, money laundering, terrorism, corruption,” he added.
Georgian minister underlined that the two countries face similar challenges and problems which can be solved by mutual coordination and assistance.
“We agreed that if Georgians are imprisoned in Brazil, they will be returned to homeland in order to be able to serve their sentence in Georgia. And four Brazilian prisoners currently serving their sentences in Georgia will have the opportunity to leave Georgian prisons and be taken to Brazil,” Tsulukiani said.
By Thea Morrison