Greece Becomes First Country Visited by Georgians after Visa-free Regime Begins
Greece was the first destination for the Georgian delegation after visa-liberalization with the European Union (EU) took effect on March 28.
“From now on, Georgian citizens will enjoy visa-free travel in the Schengen Area, which is a result of our joint efforts,” the Georgian Prime Minister, Giorgi Kvirikashvili stated after meeting with his Greek counterpart, Alexis Tsipras, on Tuesday.
The Georgian PM spoke about the symbolism of this visit to Greece on such an important day for Georgia, and underlined the centuries-old friendship and partnership Georgia shares with Greece. According to him, it is equally symbolic that Georgia signed the EU Association Agreement during Greece's Presidency of the Council of the EU.
“This visit has yet another symbolic meaning. In Athens, we are accompanied by Georgian students, the country's future generation. The benefits offered by visa-free travel in the Schengen Area will bring prosperity and development to them and every Georgian citizen, including our compatriots in Georgia's occupied territories. I am convinced that this generation has a great future, and they will continue the country's development, which will undoubtedly lead to our full and ultimate return to the European family,” Kvirikashvili said at a joint press-conference with Tsipras.
Georgian PM also congratulated Greece on its Independence Day, adding that 2017 marks the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Georgia and Greece.
Kvirikashvili said the need to maintain top-level political dialogue and the prospect of deeper relations between the two countries were discussed during the meeting.
“I would like to single out education, science, and culture as the fields of especially productive cooperation between Georgia and Greece. We have a solid cultural foundation to enhance our relations and deepen our partnership. The first step in this direction will be the meeting of the Commission for Bilateral Cooperation, which will be held here, in Greece, this May, which will lay the foundation of a substantially and qualitatively new far-reaching type of cooperation between Georgia and Greece," the PM said.
Alexis Tsipras congratulated Georgia on visa liberalization, expressing his hope for a deeper relationship between Georgia and Greece.
"Welcome to Greece! The Prime Minister of Georgia is the first Georgian citizen to visit the Schengen Area after the completion of visa liberalization. It is symbolic that he chose Greece as his first destination, which we certainly appreciate. Now Georgian citizens can enjoy visa-free travel to Greece, a Schengen Area member state. It will promote the development of tourism, and it is a great achievement in Georgia-EU relations, of course,” he said.
Historic ties between #Georgia and #Greece will be strengthened by further cooperation. Thanks @tsipras_eu for warm-hearted welcome pic.twitter.com/eCETGxGdZR
— Mikheil Janelidze (@JanelidzeMkh) March 28, 2017
After arriving in Athens, the Georgian delegation—comprised of cabinet members, successful Georgian students, scholars and media representatives—visited the Athenian Acropolis Complex and the Parthenon temple, which in 1987 was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
By Thea Morrison