2016 Wardrop Dialogue: “Trade & Prosperity between Us!”
The British Embassy hosted a business reception Thursday to welcome British Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Alan James Carter Duncan, who had come to Georgia to participate in the third annual Wardrop Dialogue, the first to be held in Tbilisi. Also present during the talks were British Ambassador to Georgia, Jeremy McKenzie Smith, Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mikheil Janelidze, and Ambassador of Georgia to the UK, Tamara Beruchashvili.
Duncan, who earlier in the day announced a £4.5 mln investment in Georgia from the UK’s Good Governance Fund, was emphatic in his message that “the UK may leave the EU but it is not leaving the world.”
It was Duncan’s first personal visit to Georgia and he claimed he was very much impressed not just by the well-organized Dialogue, but also by the access he was given to the President, Prime Minister and other important officials during a “meticulously arranged program.”
He opened the business reception by anticipating the big question that would be asked of him: Brexit.
“On June 23, a new term was launched: Brexit. And Britain is to do as the democratic system dictates. Yes, we will be leaving the EU, but we are not leaving the world or closing any doors,” Duncan said. “In the eyes of the voters who asked us to leave the EU, we’ll be set free from being told what to do by somebody else’s parliament and our own parliament will determine our future.”
Duncan went on to point out that Britain is open-minded, “open for business, open for free trade and is focused on deepening and strengthening a lot of existing bilateral relations.” This includes Georgia, as demonstrated by Britain’s eager and constructive participation in the third Wardrop Dialogue.
According to both Duncan and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mikheil Janelidze, the 2016 Wardrop Dialogue saw a step up in the strategic partnership between the UK and Georgia regarding mutual interests related to security, prosperity and the development of democratic principles.
“During the Dialogue we talked about new opportunities not only in the energy sector but in business- Georgia has one of the most transparent and easy business environments and is corruption-free,” Minister Janelidze said. “We have a lot to offer British businesses. We are investing not only in foreign policies but also relevant infrastructure to connect the EU with Asia- making us a relevant bridge and hub for EU businesses within the region and further east. Through the Dialogues, both parties agreed that our trade ties will remain strong on the government level to ensure all opportunities for the UK and Georgia.”
“Britain, regardless of Brexit, intends to continue to be busy on the world stage in UN, NATO, G7, G20- in NATO particularly with regards to focusing on the security interests of this region. Russian expansionism cannot just be accepted,” Duncan said. “We need a united global voice in favor of individual countries’ sovereignty and rule of law and should not allow that clear statement of legal and national decency to de divided and overcome by Russia trying to extend its sphere of influence unreasonably.”
Reflecting the British commitment to Georgia’s territorial integrity, Duncan visited the South Ossetian Occupation Line to see for himself the reality on the ground.
“Numerous challenges hinder Georgia’s development and its aspiration to be part of the free world and to pursue its foreign policy, which is a choice not only of the government but of our people, as it has been since we achieved independence 25 years ago,” Janelidze said.
“Georgia and the UK have excellent cooperation in the field of security,” he added. “Georgia is witnessing the same challenges any country in the EU is facing today- a need for defense against terrorists, cyber threats, and more. I am grateful for the support of the British government, which is committed to the integrity, sovereignty, and de-occupation of our territory.”
During the 2016 Wardrop Dialogues, the parties also discussed joint development of new projects and strategic partnership in other important dimensions, namely people-to-people relations and education, with the aim to include more participation from civil society and the private sector.
GEORGIA TODAY was fortunate to have an EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Tamara Beruchashvili, Ambassador of Georgia to the UK, who spoke more on the people-to-people and cultural relations aspects. Find out more in Friday’s issue of GEORGIA TODAY.
Katie Ruth Davies