Georgia’s Foreign Minister Meets European Counterparts in Brussels
BRUSSELS - Within the NATO Foreign Ministerial in Brussels, Georgia’s Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze met his European counterparts, who confirmed their firm support for Georgia’s integration into the European Union (EU) and expressed their will for a timely visa waiver for Georgian citizens to the Schengen area.
Georgia’s visa-liberalization process, recent developments in the region and in Georgia’s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia were top issues of the meeting between Janelidze and his Bulgarian college, Daniel Mitov.
The sides also discussed mutual cooperation within NATO frames and agreed to promote further development of bilateral ties in transport, trade, tourism and culture.
Janelidze also met his Spanish counterpart, Alfonso Dastis Quecedo, who welcomed the visit of the Georgian Foreign Minister to Spain to be held by the end of this week, and the visit of the Georgian Prime Minister at the beginning of 2017, which, according to the ministers, will promote the enhancement of the relations between Georgia and Spain.
The Ministers also underlined the importance of opening Spain’s Embassy in Georgia. Mikheil Janelidze thanked this Spanish colleague for supporting Georgia’s territorial integrity and foreign political aspirations.
Alfonso Dastis Quecedo reaffirmed Spain’s support for Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations and underlined the importance of granting Georgia visa-free travel with the EU.
Moreover, Georgia’s Foreign Minister met his Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias. The officials underlined the importance of appropriate celebration of the 25th anniversary of establishment of the diplomatic relations between Georgia and Greece. In this respect, Mikheil Janelidze invited his colleague to pay an official visit to Georgia to mark this date.
Janelidze also held a meeting with his Swedish counterpart, Margot Wallström. The sides spoke about the partner relations and successful co-operation between Sweden and Georgia.
The ministers highlighted the further support of Sweden, as the initiator of the Eastern Partnership, for Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
“Georgia has set an example in terms of implementing the reforms on the European agenda and the work the country has done in the process of preparing for visa liberalization, which deserves to be completed successfully,” Wallström said, reaffirming Sweden’s firm support for Georgia’s aspirations.
The Georgian Foreign Minister welcomed the establishment of a Georgian-Swedish Chamber of Commerce, which will further contribute to co-operation between the two countries and will encourage Swedish businessmen to take more interest in Georgia’s business opportunities.
While meeting his Estonian counterpart, Sven Mikser, Janelidze underlined that the Government of Georgia makes maximum use of Estonia’s experience in the process of carrying out reforms and pointed out the existing successful co-operation between the two countries in various formats. The Georgian Foreign Minister also welcomed the decision to hold the annual meeting of the Speakers of Parliament of the Baltic and Nordic countries in Tbilisi in 2017.
Estonia’s strong support for Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration and the importance of practical assistance rendered by Estonia in this process were underlined. The two sides expressed hope that the relations between their countries in terms of the European integration will acquire particular dynamics during Estonia’s EU presidency in the second half of 2017.
Janelidze also met his Lithuanian counterpart Linas Linkevicius. After the meeting Janelidze said Georgia and Lithuania enjoyed excellent partnership and friendship.
Thea Morrison