Georgia, Belarus Strengthen Bilateral Relations

TBILISI- The Republic of Belarus opened its first Embassy in Georgia on Thursday and appointed Mikhail Miatlikov as the first ambassador of Belarus to Georgia.

The ambassador presented copies of his credentials to Georgia’s Foreign Minister, Mikheil Janelidze.

The Minister congratulated Miatlikov on his appointment and wished him success in his work. Janelidze expressed his satisfaction at the decision of Belarus to open an embassy in Georgia, reiterating the hope that Mikhail Miatlikov will spare no effort to further intensify relations between the two countries.

Special attention was paid to the upcoming session of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation to be held in early September, as well as to the organization of a national exhibition of Belarus in Tbilisi.

The officials exchanged their views on mutual cooperation within international organizations. They also spoke about the ongoing processes in Georgia, the situation in the occupied territories, and various issues of regional importance.

Moreover, Georgia and Belarus plan to deepen cooperation in the area of security. The Chair of the State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus, Valery Vakulchik, also came to Tbilisi and held a meeting with the Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, and the Georgian Head of the State Security Service, Vakhtang Gomelauri, on August 25.

Gomelauri and Vakulchik signed a Cooperation Agreement between the State Security Service of Georgia and the State Security Committee of Belarus. The agreement aims at developing close cooperation between the parties in an effort to combat terrorism, corruption and other international as well as transnational organized crimes committed against state security.

By Thea Morrison